Morocco and NATO strengthen their strategic defence and security alliance
The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) has reiterated its intention to deepen cooperation with Morocco, a country considered a strategic and active partner within the Southern Neighbourhood. This was stated by Javier Colomina, Special Representative of the NATO Secretary General for that region, who stressed that the Kingdom is the State that has most demonstrated, in recent years, its willingness to strengthen collaboration with the Alliance.
This strengthening of the relationship was recently demonstrated by the visit to Morocco of a delegation from NATO's Allied Maritime Command, headed by Admiral Didier Malterre, Deputy Commander of the Maritime Command. From 2 to 5 April, the delegation held key meetings with senior officers of the Moroccan Royal Navy, including Rear Admiral Mohamed Tahine, Navy Inspector, and visited the Naval Operations Centre in Rabat. Malterre praised the operational and organisational efficiency of the Moroccan Navy, highlighting its preparedness and professionalism.
During an interview with the Spanish media outlet Agenda Pública, Colomina pointed out that there is a strong convergence of interests between Morocco and NATO, especially in the fight against regional threats. ‘We want to benefit from Morocco's experience in this field, and also offer our capabilities in areas such as command and control, strategic planning and military training,’ he explained.
Cooperation is not limited to the military sphere. International observers agree that relations between Morocco and NATO have been consolidated, especially in the areas of maritime security, the fight against terrorism and the control of irregular migration. In this context, strategic affairs expert Hisham Moatadhed told Al-Arab that ‘the effectiveness of Moroccan institutions has saved numerous human settlements from terrorist attacks, generating great confidence on the part of NATO’.
Moatadhed also emphasised that the Kingdom's strategic location, together with its security efficiency, has been key to consolidating a ‘geostrategic alliance’ with NATO, which considers Rabat a reliable partner both politically and in defence matters.
On the other hand, the Moroccan ambassador to the United States, Youssef Amrani, reinforced this vision during his participation in the NATO General Forum, held on the occasion of the organisation's 75th anniversary. The Moroccan diplomat highlighted the pioneering role of his country since the beginning of the Mediterranean Dialogue, underlining the need to strengthen political dialogue with southern partners to face common challenges.
In addition, the annual report of former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg recognised the importance of Morocco as one of the most relevant non-member partners in Africa, especially in the Maghreb and the north of the continent. Regular consultations between the military commands of both parties have focused on capacity building and ensuring regional security, with a special focus on the stability of the Mediterranean.
Finally, Colomina reiterated that this relationship should be mutually beneficial, emphasising that Morocco can benefit from the Alliance's capabilities in the areas of command and control, training, military strategy, military planning and operational interoperability. ‘Morocco not only has a lot to gain, but also a lot to offer. Its experience, its location and its professionalism make it an essential partner for NATO in this new stage of expanded cooperation’, he added.