Abdellatif Hammouchi receives Spain’s Commissioner General for Intelligence in Rabat

The Director General of National Security and Territorial Surveillance in Morocco, Abdellatif Hammouchi, received today, Wednesday, in Rabat, the Commissioner General for Intelligence of the Kingdom of Spain, Javier Antonio Sanz Berziero, who is visiting Morocco at the head of a high-level security delegation.

A statement from the General Directorate of Territorial Surveillance emphasized the significance of this visit, as the newly appointed Spanish Commissioner General for Intelligence chose Morocco as his first international destination in his official capacity. The visit aims to strengthen bilateral cooperation in counterterrorism and combating violent extremism.

According to the same source, Hammouchi and his Spanish counterpart held intensive discussions, focusing on assessing the levels of terrorist risks and threats in various global conflict zones, particularly in the Sahel and Sahara regions. They also highlighted and strengthened joint operations conducted in cooperation between the two countries in counterterrorism efforts.

The two officials also discussed the role of the General Directorate of Territorial Surveillance in joint efforts to ensure the success of the 2030 World Cup, which will be hosted by Morocco, Spain, and Portugal, particularly in aspects related to criminal intelligence and preemptive measures to mitigate risks to public safety.

During the talks, Spain’s Commissioner General for Intelligence praised the outstanding level of cooperation with Morocco, represented by the General Directorate of Territorial Surveillance. He affirmed that Spain has successfully thwarted significant terrorist plans thanks to critical and highly reliable intelligence provided by Moroccan services.

Furthermore, according to the statement, the Spanish official expressed his country’s desire to continue benefiting from the support provided by Morocco in countering terrorism, particularly in the current global context of escalating and interconnected security challenges. He also reaffirmed the importance of strengthening joint operations and simultaneous arrests carried out by the security services in both countries within extremist circles in Morocco and Spain.

The discussions concluded with a shared agreement on the necessity of enhancing and intensifying mechanisms for joint security cooperation in various areas, including combating terrorism and violent extremism, to address common threats to the security of both neighboring countries. This visit reflects the advanced level of the security partnership between Morocco and Spain and highlights the growing demand for the Moroccan security model in the fight against terrorism and extremism.