Morocco Continues to Strengthen Ties with NATO

Rabat – The Political Affairs and Security Policy Division of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) hosted a delegation of Moroccan diplomats at NATO headquarters in Brussels from October 15 to 16. The visit came as part of NATO’s efforts to strengthen their partnership with Morocco in a variety of sectors.

During the visit, the Moroccan diplomats met with NATO officials to discuss cooperation and sharing good practice. The delegation also attended discussions concerning NATO cooperation with countries in the Mediterranean Dialogue, according to a press release from NATO.

The  North Atlantic Council launched NATO’s Mediterranean Dialogue in 1994. The dialogue includes seven non-NATO countries from the Mediterranean region: Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia.

Defense, and education were both on the agenda for Morocco-NATO dialogue; however, the key focus was on weapons. The Moroccan delegation met with NATO officials to discuss arms control with a specific focus on small arms and light weapons.

Read also: Morocco Participates in NATO Parliamentary Assembly

Ms. Clare Hutchinson, NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for Women, Peace and Security, held a meeting with the Moroccan delegation during their visit to Brussels. Hutchinson and the Moroccan diplomats shared good practice in her areas of expertise and discussed cooperation in the fields of peace and security. 

The latest diplomatic exchange comes after a delegation from Morocco’s military visited NATO headquarters in June of this year. The visit was the first of its kind and reflected the growing cooperation between Morocco and NATO. 

In January 2019, Alejandro Alvargonzalez, NATO’s secratary general for political affairs and security policy traveled to Morocco to meet with the Minister Delegate for National Defense and Nasser Bourrita, Morocco’s Minister for Foreign Affairs. 

During his visit, Alvargonzalez expressed NATO’s thanks to Morocco for its “indisputable loyalty to the people of the Mediterranean, Europe, and the Maghreb.”