Grande-Marlaska calls for strengthened international cooperation to tackle new threats generated by terrorism and organised crime

Grande-Marlaska made this statement during his participation in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) in the Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the International Security Partnership. This alliance, created in 2017, is made up of Spain, Italy, France, Israel, Morocco, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, and aims to promote and improve cooperation in security matters, especially in the prevention and fight against terrorism and radicalisation and in the prevention and fight against transnational organised crime.

"Terrorism and organised crime have long known no borders," the Spanish minister told his counterparts, stressing the need to maintain "the constant commitment to mutual collaboration" between the countries of the alliance, especially through the exchange of experiences, knowledge, good practices and training.

Grande-Marlaska pointed out that "the response that each of us can provide individually is limited" in the face of the threats generated by new forms of terrorist activity, serious crime and hybrid threats.

"Spain's experience in the fight against terrorism and organised crime leads us to a clear conclusion: only through the support and international collaboration of our partners can we be more effective, both in prevention and in prosecution," he said.

This is why Grande-Marlaska said that the International Security Alliance initiative "is very useful". "We are united by the will to ensure the security of our countries and allies through loyal and effective exchanges and cooperation, based on mutual trust, both politically and operationally," he told his Alliance counterparts.

International alliance

The home affairs ministers of the member countries of the International Security Partnership meet once a year, although, due to the pandemic, the last meeting was held by videoconference in December 2020.

The network's activity also revolves around the creation and development of working groups that address specific issues, such as the blocking and removal of terrorist content from the internet, the prevention of radicalisation in prisons or drone detention technologies. Spain organised one of the last of these activities, namely a webinar on money laundering, which took place in December 2021.

In addition, specialists from the National Police and the Civil Guard have participated in the last two years in activities related to the fight against the sexual exploitation of children on the internet, the use of dogs to detect COVID-19 and the impact of the pandemic on drug trafficking.

During his participation in the meeting, Grande-Marlaska thanked the United Arab Emirates for having promoted this meeting of the Alliance. He stressed that the Alliance has been able to maintain and increase cooperation among its member states despite the pandemic.

Cyber-attacks

Home affairs ministers from Alliance countries also discussed the results of the ISALEX 2.0 exercise at the meeting. This activity, carried out over the last few days, consisted of a virtual simulation in which the police forces of the Member States practised the cooperation mechanisms for dealing with a supposed drone attack combined with cyber-attacks on critical infrastructures.

In this section, the Spanish minister highlighted the work on the use of drones for criminal purposes that has taken place in the ISALEX 2.0 exercise, which has contributed "to dealing more efficiently with their use by criminal organisations". He also highlighted work on money laundering and cybercrime in times of pandemic.

Finally, Grande-Marlaska stressed Spain's support for the activities proposed for the coming year within the framework of this International Security Alliance. "The Ministry of Home Affairs will invite our experts to participate in them and exchange our practices and experiences, especially in the areas of terrorism, radicalisation, money laundering and cybercrime," he said.

The minister's agenda in Dubai is completed with various bilateral meetings with several of the home affairs ministers attending the meeting, which he will hold throughout Tuesday and Wednesday.

Non official translation