Morocco has solidified its role as a pioneer partner of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in the region, assuming even greater significance with the launch of the Mediterranean Dialogue in 1994.
During NATO’s Public Forum held on Wednesday in Washington, D.C., Moroccan Ambassador to the United States Youssef Amrani emphasized the Mediterranean Dialogue’s aim to foster a mutually beneficial collaboration with the transatlantic security alliance.
Amrani stressed that Morocco’s relationship with NATO aligns with the principles of collective and indivisible security, crucial for tackling current security challenges. He highlighted the necessity of strengthening political dialogue between NATO and its southern partners, noting that effective and coherent political discourse is essential for promoting mutual understanding and establishing practical collaboration based on trust.
“The emergence of new security threats calls for a more coordinated and global strategy,” Amrani stated. He noted that NATO is a powerful vehicle for enhancing international cooperation, particularly given Morocco’s vision for reconfiguring the African Atlantic space, which is reshaping the geopolitical dynamics of the region.
King Mohammed VI’s Atlantic Vision, Amrani explained, is “profoundly humane, pragmatic, and unifying.” This vision is driving Morocco’s regional commitments to create a corridor of shared progress and prosperity.
“Peace and security are prerequisites for development and progress,” he emphasized, adding that a holistic approach enriches all national, regional, and international commitments in the Atlantic region.
The forum, which celebrated NATO’s 75th anniversary, featured participation from key figures, including NATO’s Deputy Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs and Security Policy, Javier Colomina, and former Secretary of State for Defense of Portugal and President of NATO’s reflection group on its southern neighborhood, Ana Santos Pinto.