Washington, Rabat Promote Proliferation Security Initiative
The United States and Morocco co-hosted the North African Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) Workshop that was held from December 6-8, 2022, in Tangier, Morocco.
The two countries urged all regional non-endorsers from Mediterranean and African countries to endorse the PSI and participate in future PSI related events.
A joint statement stated that the workshop was the first of its kind in the region, stressing that it demonstrated partnership and commitments to countering threats from weapons of mass destruction (WMD) in the region.
“Over the course of three days, civilian and military leaders from ten governments reviewed WMD proliferation trends, international and domestic legal authorities related to WMD interdiction, and issues associated with detaining and inspecting cargoes carrying suspected WMD, their delivery systems, and related materials,” the statement read.
The workshop also featured expert briefings, a scenario-based tabletop exercise, and a visit to the Port of Tangier Med to observe a cargo inspection.
The PSI was established in 2003 to stop or impede transfers of WMD, their delivery systems, and related materials flowing to and from states and non-state actors of proliferation concern.
According to the statement, so far, up to 107 states have endorsed the PSI Statement of Interdiction Principles, which entitles them to commit to take effective measures to interdict WMD-related transfers consistent with national law and international obligations, adopt streamlined procedures for rapid information exchange, and strengthen relevant national and international laws and frameworks.
