Security talks deepen cooperation between Morocco and Denmark in combating crime
High-level Moroccan-Danish security talks held on Tuesday in Rabat underscore the Kingdom’s determination to strengthen its position as a reliable security partner on the international stage, amid growing challenges linked to transnational organized crime and complex terrorist threats.
The discussions brought together Abdellatif Hammouchi, Director General of National Security and Territorial Surveillance, and Michael Worm, Director of Police and Head of Denmark’s National Unit for Combating Organized Crime, during an official visit by the Danish official at the head of a specialized security delegation.
According to a statement from Morocco’s General Directorate of National Security, the meeting focused on ways to elevate bilateral security cooperation to more advanced levels by establishing a structured institutional and legal framework governing cooperation between Morocco’s National Security and Territorial Surveillance services and their Danish counterparts.
This framework encompasses the exchange of expertise, technical assistance, the strengthening of joint police training programs, and the development of operational cooperation in priority security cases.
The talks also assessed the level of bilateral cooperation in combating transnational organized crime networks, which increasingly rely on sophisticated and interconnected methods, benefiting from technological advances and overlapping trafficking routes. Discussions further addressed issues related to the mobility of terrorist organizations at the regional and international levels, and the need for closer coordination and swift, effective intelligence sharing.
Both sides emphasized the importance of strengthening coordination mechanisms for tracking and pursuing internationally wanted individuals, as well as facilitating extradition procedures in accordance with national laws and relevant international conventions, to ensure that no geographical space becomes a safe haven for criminals or individuals involved in terrorist activities.
The two parties agreed, according to the statement, to give priority to the signing in the near future of a joint memorandum of understanding that will serve as the reference framework for bilateral cooperation. This memorandum is expected to lay the foundations for solid and sustainable security cooperation, reflecting the advanced position Morocco has come to occupy within the international system for combating organized crime, terrorism, and violent extremism.
These talks are part of the cumulative approach adopted by Morocco in recent years to build a balanced security model that combines operational effectiveness, respect for the rule of law, and investment in human capital. Moroccan security services have developed extensive expertise in dismantling complex criminal networks, whether linked to terrorism, international drug trafficking, human smuggling, or transnational financial crime, drawing widespread interest and recognition from numerous countries and international security institutions.
The confidence enjoyed by Morocco’s security services, particularly the General Directorate of National Security and Territorial Surveillance, reflects the success of the Kingdom’s proactive approach to addressing security threats through a combination of precise intelligence work, carefully calibrated field operations, and broad international cooperation. This approach has enabled Morocco to play a pivotal role in thwarting terrorist plots within its borders, as well as in providing intelligence that has contributed to safeguarding the security of partner countries.
Moreover, Morocco’s openness to building multilateral security partnerships reflects an advanced awareness that contemporary security challenges are no longer confined to individual states, but constitute cross-border threats requiring collective approaches and continuous coordination among international actors. In this context, cooperation with Northern European countries, including Denmark, forms part of a broader strategy aimed at diversifying partnerships and exchanging best practices in sensitive areas such as risk analysis, tracking criminal networks, and the use of modern technologies in policing.
This meeting also reaffirms Morocco’s firm commitment to actively contributing to international efforts to protect regional and global security, in an international environment characterized by overlapping crises and an increase in non-traditional threats. From its strategic geographical position, the Kingdom recognizes that its national security is closely linked to that of its regional environment and international partners, which explains its ongoing efforts to enhance its security tools and strengthen its presence within international cooperation networks.
The Moroccan-Danish talks in Rabat thus reflect not only a shared desire to deepen bilateral cooperation, but also growing international recognition of the central role Morocco plays in combating organized crime and terrorism, as well as of the security expertise it has accumulated, making it a trusted partner capable of contributing effectively to security and stability at both regional and international levels.
