MOSCOW — Morocco’s top intelligence official, Abdellatif Hammouchi, travelled to Moscow this week to take part in a major international summit focused on global security threats. His appearance marked Morocco’s ongoing efforts to deepen cooperation with countries facing rising instability, cybercrime, and terrorism.
Hammouchi, who heads both Morocco’s National Security and Territorial Surveillance services, joined representatives from more than 100 countries at the 13th International Meeting of High Representatives for Security Issues. The three-day conference, organised by Russia’s Security Council, wrapped up on Thursday.
Now in its 13th year, the gathering has become a regular forum for security chiefs from the Global South, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia to discuss shared threats and how to confront them. It also draws delegates from major regional blocs, including the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and the Collective Security Treaty Organisation.
President Vladimir Putin opened the event with a virtual address, calling for a “fair and balanced” global security structure that allows all countries to defend themselves without threatening others.
“Security should not be at the expense of sovereignty,” Putin said, according to state media. He also praised the participation of states from Africa, Asia, and Latin America, saying they bring “realistic perspectives” to the global security debate.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu also addressed the summit, which included panel discussions on terrorism, cyberattacks, and cross-border crime.
Hammouchi used his speech to call for deeper intelligence-sharing between nations.
“The threats we face do not respect borders,” he told attendees. “We must build a united front, grounded in mutual trust and cooperation.”
He stressed that information sharing should be both immediate and secure, especially when dealing with terror threats or cyber breaches. “We can no longer afford delays or half-measures,” he added.
The Moroccan official held separate talks with counterparts from several countries, including the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB). Those closed-door meetings reportedly focused on joint counterterrorism efforts and ways to strengthen existing partnerships.
Morocco has emerged in recent years as a key player in international counterterrorism, especially in West Africa, where jihadist groups continue to spread across the Sahel region. Western intelligence agencies have frequently praised the country’s role in foiling terror plots across Europe and Africa.
In Moscow, Hammouchi reiterated Morocco’s support for a global approach to security one that treats cooperation not as charity, but as a “win-win necessity.”
While the summit drew little fanfare in Western capitals, it signalled growing coordination among nations outside traditional NATO alliances a development some analysts see as a quiet reshaping of global security dynamics.
“This isn’t about choosing sides,” said one senior African diplomat present at the talks, who requested anonymity. “It’s about building tools to fight the threats we all share.”
The conference ended with calls for sustained dialogue and regular updates between national security agencies, especially as cyber threats continue to evolve and organised crime spreads across digital and physical borders.
For Morocco, Hammouchi’s appearance underscored Rabat’s diplomatic push to maintain strong security ties across continents and its willingness to engage, even when the geopolitical stage is complex.
