Morocco and Spain strengthen security cooperation
The General Director of National Security and Surveillance of the National Territory of Morocco (DGSN-DGST), Abdellatif Hammouchi, met on Tuesday in Rabat with the General Commissioner of Information of Spain, Eugenio Pereiro Blanco, who came to the Moroccan country with a high-level delegation to discuss security-related issues.
According to a communiqué from the Moroccan Directorate General for Surveillance of the National Territory, this meeting is part of the bilateral meetings between the heads of the security and intelligence bodies of the Kingdom of Morocco and Spain. The aim was to discuss the means and mechanisms for developing collaboration between the two countries in various areas of security.
The same communiqué stressed that this meeting constitutes a new opportunity to assess the balance and the exceptional level of cooperation in security matters between the two parties, as well as to examine various issues of common interest. It has also made it possible to monitor and anticipate all emerging risks and challenges, as well as ways to address them in a collaborative manner.
The official note concluded by stressing that this meeting illustrates once again the crucial importance and advanced level of bilateral cooperation between the security bodies of the two neighbouring countries on both shores of the Mediterranean, based on the depth of the strategic partnership that unites the two nations.
This meeting between Abdellatif Hammouchi and Eugenio Pereiro Blanco once again highlights the close cooperation that exists between Morocco and Spain, enhanced after a diplomatic process that has brought the two countries even closer together following the important political move made by the Spanish government when it recognised Morocco's initiative for Western Sahara in March 2022 as the most serious, realistic and credible way of resolving the Saharawi dispute.
Following this decision by the government headed by Pedro Sánchez came the invitation of King Mohammed VI to Rabat in April 2022 for a meeting between the two leaders in which the road map was drawn up that would mark the link between the two countries throughout this time, and which even led to a High Level Meeting held in February 2023, with the heads of government Pedro Sánchez and Aziz Akhannouch and various ministers from both countries, which resulted in numerous agreements beneficial to both parties in various matters.
Morocco a reliable partner in the fight against terrorism and crime
Security and the fight against terrorism and criminal organisations is an area in which Spain and Morocco have always collaborated, even when the relationship has not been the best. Now that diplomatic ties are even better, cooperation is even closer and Spain and Morocco both consider each other as reliable partners when it comes to cooperating and collaborating in the fight against terrorist organisations and organised crime and human trafficking gangs, which operate especially in the complicated areas of North Africa and the Sahel.
In addition to Spain, other important nations such as the United States and Saudi Arabia see Morocco as a fundamental ally in maintaining security in Africa, something of vital importance for other continents, especially Europe. The United States considers Morocco an important player in maintaining security in the Maghreb, the Sahara and the Sahel, areas that are targets for the activity of various terrorist and criminal groups that threaten regional and international security. Proof of the closeness between partners is Morocco's key participation in joint military exercises such as the famous 'African Lion'. In fact, Morocco and the United States are already preparing these joint African Lion exercises, which will take place this year on the border with Algeria, Morocco's great political rival in the Maghreb and an ally of the Polisario Front, an entity opposed to the interests of the Moroccan kingdom in Western Sahara.
African Lion 2024 will take place from 20 to 31 May in the regions of Agadir, Tan Tan, Mahbes, Tata, Kenitra, Ben Guerir and Tifnit, and aims to develop technical capabilities and joint work between the Royal Armed Forces and the military forces of the participating countries, including several African nations, as well as to develop training in planning and directing operations.
On the other hand, Morocco, through Abdellatif Hammouchi, was also present at the second edition of the World Defence Show in Saudi Arabia, the global defence exhibition that recently brought together in Riyadh, the Saudi capital, leading manufacturers of weapons and military equipment to showcase the latest developments in the global defence and security industry.
Abdellatif Hammouchi himself has recently held important meetings with leading security figures to strengthen cooperation in this field. The Moroccan Director General of National Security and Homeland Surveillance recently met with the Director of the American Intelligence Agency (CIA), William Burns, and also with Lieutenant General Abdulaziz bin Mohamed al-Howairini, head of the Saudi State Security Service, who invited Hammouchi to the World Defence Show. All of this is proof that Morocco is taken into decisive account in security matters.