The Director General of National Security and Territorial Surveillance, Abdellatif Hammouchi, received on Thursday, July 2, at the headquarters of the General Directorate of National Security in Rabat, General Luis Palacios Penero, head of the Information Commission of the Spanish Civil Guard, who is on a working visit to the Kingdom of Morocco at the head of a high-level security delegation.
This visit comes in the context of the advanced level reached by the distinguished security partnership between the General Directorate of National Security, the General Directorate of Territorial Surveillance, and various Spanish security and intelligence services, which has become a model to be emulated in combating terrorism and various forms of cross-border crime.
In culmination of this shared security partnership, this meeting witnessed the ceremony for the presentation of a number of prestigious Spanish medals to several officials from the General Directorate of Territorial Surveillance and the General Directorate of National Security. This decoration was based on a decree issued by the Spanish Minister of the Interior, in recognition of the diligent efforts and effective contributions of these officials in strengthening operational cooperation and technical assistance with the Spanish security authorities.
This tradition of awarding prestigious Spanish decorations also embodies the depth and strength of the strategic relations between the Moroccan security agencies and their counterparts in the Spanish Civil Guard, reflecting the Spanish side’s appreciation for the high professionalism demonstrated by the officials and employees of the General Directorate of National Security and the General Directorate of Territorial Surveillance in facing various security challenges and threats along the shared borders between the two countries.
This Spanish decoration once again confirms the excellence of the model of bilateral security cooperation based on mutual trust and close coordination between the Moroccan and Spanish kingdoms, while highlighting the leading and pivotal role played by Moroccan security interests as a strategic and reliable partner in ensuring security and stability at both regional and international levels, especially in the Mediterranean Basin.
In his speech on this occasion, the head of the Information Commission of the Spanish Civil Guard emphasized the importance and strength of Moroccan-Spanish cooperation in the security field, describing Morocco as an indispensable strategic partner in combating terrorism and organized crime, particularly in light of the complex security challenges and stakes in the regional and international environment.
The same Spanish official confirmed that the awarding of high decorations to Moroccan security leaders by the Spanish Civil Guard is an acknowledgment of the sacrifices made by these officials to strengthen bilateral security cooperation to address common challenges. It is also an expression of appreciation and gratitude for the advanced level reached by the security partnership between the General Directorate of National Security and the General Directorate of Territorial Surveillance on one side, and the Spanish Civil Guard on the other side.
It is noteworthy that this Spanish decoration comes following the honoring of the Director General of National Security and Territorial Surveillance, Abdellatif Hammouchi, in November 2025 in Spain, with the Grand Cross of Merit of the Civil Guard, which is the highest and most prestigious medal awarded by the Spanish Civil Guard. This follows his being awarded in 2014 the Cross of Honor for Security Merit with red distinction, which is also one of the highest Spanish decorations, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to establishing a model security partnership between Morocco and Spain.
