Rabat – The President of Romania, Klaus Werner Johannis, awarded the prestigious National Order “The Star of Romania,” with the rank of Grand Officer, to the General Directorate of Studies and Documentation (DGED), Morocco’s foreign intelligence agency, for its exceptional efforts in advancing regional security.
The honor was presented to the Moroccan agency in Bucharest on December 11, marking a milestone in the growing cooperation between Morocco and Romania on intelligence sharing and regional stability.
President Klaus Werner Johannis, through Presidential Decree No. 1,365 issued on November 6, lauded the DGED’s remarkable role in promoting regional security and fostering bilateral security ties between the two countries.
“The Star of Romania” National Order is considered among the highest civilian honors in the country, and it reflects the dedication and outstanding contributions made by the Moroccan Intelligence Service, particularly in matters of intelligence exchange and regional stability.
Morocco and Romania share a long-standing security cooperation. In August 2023, Morocco’s security agencies helped repatriate Iulian Ghergut, a Romanian security official who was abducted from a manganese mining venture in Burkina Faso back in 2015.
Prominent security agencies
Morocco has in recent years emerged as a strong regional and international ally in security cooperation.
Last year, Qatar sought the support of Morocco’s intelligence to boost security ahead of the World Cup.
In October 2022, the two countries released a joint statement promising to increase security cooperation and exchange information ahead of the global tournament.
In addition to guaranteeing the audiences’ safety, the agreement also includes an increased level of security in the competition and extends to general cooperation in the field.
This week, meanwhile, Abdellatif Hammouchi, the General Director of Morocco’s National Security and Territorial Surveillance (DGSN-DGST), met the general director of French national police Frederic Veaux discuss the potential of boosting security cooperation ahead of the Olympic Games that are set to take place next year in Paris.
According to the Moroccan Directorate General for National Security (DGSN), Veaux’s visit aimed at bolstering security collaboration with Rabat.
In addition to requesting Morocco’s cooperation to ensure security at the 2024 Olympic Games, Veaux’s talks with senior Moroccan officials centered around the urgency of strengthening security cooperation to tackle transnational challenges, including drug trafficking, irregular migration, terrorism, and cybercrimes.
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