Rabat – Morocco’s Interior Minister, Abdelouafi Laftit, and his Spanish counterpart, Fernando Grande Marlaska, met in Rabat on Friday to convene on the bilateral security cooperation between their two countries.
The meeting aimed to seek venues to boost the two countries’ collaboration on security issues.
Morocco’s robust security collaboration with Spain is built on a roadmap established after discussions between King Mohammed VI and the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, in April 2022.
The partnership focuses primarily on addressing common challenges and issues. Both countries are committed to combating terrorism and the criminal activities of cross-border trafficking networks, especially illegal migrant and human trafficking.
During the discussions, Minister Laftit highlighted Morocco’s significant contributions and efforts in the fight against terrorism, border control, and the comprehensive approach to cross-border crimes.
The two parties have agreed to reinforce operational coordination dynamics and streamline channels for exchanging information and expertise. The aim is to better anticipate and address threats posed by terrorism and criminal activities.
The meeting further stressed the strategic approach and regional added value of multilateral cooperation in favor of Southern partner countries. The cooperation would include capacity building, and technical support to bolster regional stability.
Minister Laftit also underscored Morocco’s holistic and humanistic approach to migration.
Morocco and Spain share robust bilateral relations spanning various fields, including trade and security.
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In December 2023, Spanish Foreign Affairs Minister Jose Manuel Albares said that the partnership with Morocco is a top priority for Spain’s foreign policy.
While on a two-day visit to Morocco, Albares said that the “strategic” partnership between Morocco and Spain is now a “multidimensional partnership because it encompasses all areas.”
The roadmap was ratified during a visit of Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to Morocco, where he met with King Mohammed VI. The visit followed Spain’s decision to endorse Morocco’s Autonomy Plan and recognize it as the most credible path to resolving the Western Sahara dispute.
Spain’s decision to endorse Morocco’s territorial integrity ended a year-long diplomatic crisis between the two countries. The crisis erupted in April 2021 after the Spanish government’s decision to host Polisario leader Brahim Ghali to receive medical attention.
