Morocco-Spain Anti-Terror Cooperation Endures Despite Diplomatic Tensions

In this document, the Institute praised the "great efforts" made by Morocco and Spain to maintain their counter-terrorism cooperation, despite the diplomatic crisis and the migration crisis in May in Ceuta, Europa Press reports.

"The bilateral counter-terrorism cooperation between Spain and Morocco is a success in itself because it has allowed the implementation of measures and agreements in this framework," the report states, however, that "the mistrust, still latent between the two countries, prevents the total development of this bilateral cooperation."

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Cooperation has evolved over time, moving from the sharing of data on cells or individuals linked to jihadist terrorism to the establishment of joint teams and mixed Spanish and Moroccan patrols, note the OIET researchers, who place the "paradigm shift" after the Casablanca attacks in 2003 and Madrid in 2004.

According to the report, "more than 3,000 agents will be tasked with fighting religious terrorism of a jihadist nature in just over ten years, while only 140 members of the national police were dedicated to this issue in 2001."