فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
In contrast to the tensions observed between Paris and Algiers, relations between the French capital and Rabat have notably strengthened. French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau was received by his Moroccan counterpart, Abdelouafi Laftit, this Monday in Rabat, for a working meeting attended by senior officials from both countries.
The two ministers reviewed issues of common interest as well as prospects for strengthening bilateral cooperation, in perfect harmony with the Declaration of Enhanced Exceptional Partnership, signed by King Mohammed VI and French President Emmanuel Macron during the state visit in October 2024, according to Abdelouafi Laftit’s department.
It was also an opportunity to take a comprehensive look at the results of security and migration cooperation. This meeting underscores a positive dynamic in Franco-Moroccan relations, particularly in the area of security.
The Key Role of Abdellatif Hammouchi
French generalist radio Europe 1 dedicated a report this Monday morning to the security cooperation between Morocco and France, which withstands the vagaries of the two countries’ foreign policy, and primarily to the key role played by Abdellatif Hammouchi in this regard.
The Director General of National Security and Territorial Surveillance, who is close to King Mohammed VI, plays a crucial role in maintaining security ties with France.
Uninterrupted Cooperation
Even when diplomatic relations between France and Morocco have gone through difficult periods, the exchange of information concerning terrorism has never ceased, the French radio noted.
A concrete example of this cooperation occurred in 2015, during the Bataclan attacks. “When relations between France and Morocco were deteriorated, he still shared information with Paris on terrorism. In 2015, Moroccan services provided crucial intelligence to locate Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the terrorist who headed the commando,” the same source recalled. This sharing of crucial information highlighted the solidity of the security ties between the two nations.
“Even during the scandal surrounding the Pegasus spyware, exchanges between Moroccan and French police officers never stopped,” the same source continued. This episode shows the resilience and depth of cooperation between the two countries, even surpassing major international controversies.
Academic and Professional Partnership
Another aspect of Franco-Moroccan cooperation concerns the training of police commissioners. Several places in the French police commissioner training curriculum are specifically reserved for Moroccan candidates. These academies serve as a platform to solidify professional ties while sharing best practices and law enforcement techniques.
Exchanges between Moroccan and French law enforcement agencies have become practically daily. Recent examples include the training last week of 12 Moroccan Civil Protection agents by French experts in search and rescue techniques. These trainings only strengthen the collaboration and effectiveness of the teams from both countries in critical missions.
Cooperation between Paris and Rabat stands out for its effectiveness and consistency, even in sometimes tense diplomatic contexts. The role of Abdellatif Hammouchi and the increased collaboration in police training clearly illustrate this positive dynamic. By working together on security and migration issues, France and Morocco demonstrate that their partnership remains a priority, providing an example of successful international cooperation.
