In a statement to the press following talks with Minister Delegate to the Head of Government in charge of National Defense Administration, Abdeltif Loudyi, Admiral Rob Bauer, who is visiting the Kingdom on April 28-30, said that “NATO is proud to call Morocco our partner.”

He commended the strong and mutually beneficial relations that Morocco and the Alliance have built, thanks in particular to the Mediterranean Dialogue and NATO’s cooperation program.

Morocco has taken part in a high number of NATO exercises, to which the Kingdom has brought its expertise and experience in the fields of counterterrorism and illegal immigration, as well as in terms of maritime security, noted Admiral Rob Bauer.

NATO member countries share the same challenges with those of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, he added, citing as examples the threats posed by extremist groups, terrorism and nuclear proliferation.

“We all have different approaches to tackling these challenges. It is crucial that we keep turning our diversity into a strength,” said Admiral Rob Bauer, underlining the Alliance’s determination to strengthen its relations with the countries of the region, including Morocco.

To this end, he stressed the need to seize opportunities to grow this cooperation in the service of peace and stability. In order to do that, NATO must “listen harder, better and more actively” to its partners and invest in skills and people to do this, he said.

During his visit to Morocco, Admiral Bauer will host a conference at the Royal College of Higher Military Education in Kenitra for military officers on the theme of “NATO’s perspectives and strategies”.