Friday, December 16, 2022 at 02:19 PM
Rabat – In compliance with the High Royal Instructions, the 18th meeting of Ministers of Defense of the member countries of the “5+5 Defense” Initiative was held, under the chairmanship of the Kingdom of Morocco, on Friday in Rabat, with the participation nine member countries of the Initiative: France, Italy, Libya, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Portugal, Spain and Tunisia.
The National Defense Administration indicates in a press release that this meeting was an opportunity to take stock of the cooperation activities carried out in 2022 and to adopt an action plan for the year 2023. As such, the Chiefs delegations from member countries of the Initiative welcomed the satisfactory results obtained in 2022 and expressed their commitment to carrying out the activities included in the 2023 Action Plan.
In his opening address, Mr. Abdeltif Loudyi, Minister Delegate to the Head of Government in charge of National Defense Administration, welcomed the efforts made to develop mechanisms for regular and pragmatic cooperation in many areas of common interest, in particular maritime surveillance, aviation security, risk management and strengthening the interoperability of forces, in particular through training and the organization of joint exercises.
This meeting was an opportunity for the Heads of Delegations of the member countries of the Initiative to discuss the current situation of threats and risks raging in the region and to reiterate their common desire to meet the security challenges concerning the area of the western Mediterranean, in particular terrorism, illicit trafficking, illegal immigration and climate change, specifies the same source.
On this register, Mr. Loudyi highlighted the role of the Kingdom of Morocco, under the leadership of His Majesty the King, may God assist Him, as an important player in stability and peace, particularly in the region of the western Mediterranean through the deployment of a multidimensional strategy to counter the threats of terrorism, immigration and illicit trafficking and to humanely manage migratory flows.
During this meeting, the Heads of delegations of the member countries of the Initiative welcomed the results of the activities of the Euro-Maghreb Center for Research and Strategic Studies crowned by the work, led by Mauritania, on the research theme “the exploitation of water resources and renewable energies as a strategy for future stability in the 5+5 space”.
This study made it possible to identify the challenges to be met and the potential to be mobilized by the member countries in terms of water resources and renewable energies, adds the National Defense Administration.
The member countries of the Initiative also welcomed the progress made by the Libyan authorities in terms of stability and security, which will enable this brotherly country to restore its security and preserve its unity and national sovereignty.
During this meeting, the Heads of Delegations stressed the importance of continuing to expand the Initiative’s cooperation to other areas of common interest such as special forces, cybersecurity, drones , the fight against terrorism, search and rescue, artificial intelligence, the fight against marine pollution and the security challenges resulting from climate change.
At the end of their work, continues the same source, the Heads of Delegations approved the 2023 action plan, which will see an increase in activities of around 20% compared to 2022, thus denoting the determination and the commitment of member countries to maintain the dynamism and vitality of the “5+5 Defense” Initiative.
At the end of the meeting, a joint declaration was approved by the Heads of Delegations of the member countries of the Initiative which pays tribute to the satisfactory results obtained under the Moroccan presidency and entrusts the Republic of Portugal to continue in 2023 the work of sustainability of this cooperation in the service of peace and security on both shores of the western Mediterranean.