Spain and Chile step up cooperation in fight against crime and terrorism by signing international treaty

On Thursday at Moncloa Palace, the Governments of Spain and Chile signed an international cooperation treaty on matters related to the fight against crime and terrorism, on the occasion of the State visit of Michelle Bachelet, the President of Chile, to Spain. This agreement, which consists of stepping up the collaboration of both countries to combat the various forms of criminal activity, was signed by the Minister for Home Affairs, Jorge Fernández Díaz, and Chile's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Heraldo Muñoz.

The foundations for the signing of this international agreement were laid one month ago at the Ministry for Home Affairs, in a working meeting between Jorge Fernández Díaz and the Minister for Home Affairs and Public Security, and Vice-President of the Republic of Chile, Rodrigo Peñailillo, during his official visit to Spain towards the end of September.

At that meeting, the two home affairs ministers signed a memorandum of understanding that has led to the signing of this international treaty on Thursday, in which both ministerial departments have stepped up their commitment to collaboration in the areas of security and protection of citizens and their assets, under the premise that public and personal security is an essential element for peaceful and democratic coexistence.

In addition to their bilateral agreements, Spain and Chile now have a more powerful legal tool with which to continue combatting terrorist threats, drug trafficking, laundering of assets, white collar crimes, cyber-crime and other activities of transnational organised crime such as human trafficking and the trafficking of firearms and explosives, all based on collaboration.

To step up cooperation in the fight against all forms of criminal activity, Spain and Chile have made a commitment to continue sharing information and actively cooperate in police investigations. This collaboration will extend to areas of technical and scientific assistance, together with professional training. Furthermore, this agreement includes the creation of a Mixed Committee that will bring together those responsible from both home affairs ministries to strengthen this cooperation at a technical level. In essence, this is an international treaty which opens up a new stage of heightened collaboration aimed at providing a streamlined and coordinated response to crime in all its manifestations.