Grande-Marlaska: "International collaboration against terrorism and organised crime is not an option, but a necessity"
News - 2025.11.4
The Minister for Home Affairs, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, and UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs, Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, greet each other
Fernando Grande-Marlaska stressed the importance of cooperation in security matters. "The Spanish experience in the fight against terrorism and organised crime has taught us that international collaboration is not an option, but a necessity," he said from Abu Dhabi, where he participated in the 6th Ministerial Meeting of the International Security Alliance (ISA).
During his speech, Grande-Marlaska acknowledged the transnational nature of the threats facing today's societies, from the criminal use of drones, money laundering, cybercrime, to hybrid threats and radicalisation, which require, in his opinion, the exchange of operational information and mutual trust between agencies as "fundamental pillars" of the common strategy against organised crime.
Created in 2017, the International Security Alliance is made up of eleven countries (Spain, United Arab Emirates, France, Italy, Singapore, Bahrain, Senegal, Morocco, Slovakia, Israel and the Netherlands), united with the aim of promoting and improving cooperation in security matters, especially in the prevention and fight against transnational organised crime, radicalisation and terrorism, and border management and control. This year's meeting also confirmed Brazil's accession, which opens up the Alliance to the Americas.
"Spain is proud to have actively participated in this initiative from the beginning, convinced that global challenges require collective responses," said the minister, who described the Alliance as an "effective platform" for strengthening international cooperation on security.
The last meeting was held in October 2023, with the participation of the Minister for Home Affairs by means of a recorded message, and the attendance by videoconference of the then Secretary of State for Security, Rafael Pérez, and the Deputy Director General for International Police Cooperation, Almudena Tudanca. Previously, in March 2022, Grande-Marlaska attended in person the 4th ISA meeting held in Dubai (United Arab Emirates).
Cooperation activities
The International Security Alliance regularly organises activities and working groups that address security threats and risks, such as blocking and removing terrorist content from the Internet, preventing radicalisation in prisons, and drone detection technologies.
The ISALEX 3.0 exercise, held between 27 and 29 October in Bahrain, was the latest of these initiatives, with the participation of five National Police and Guardia Civil officers in the areas of explosives, drones, maritime police and investigation. Grande-Marlaska referred to the "success" of this exercise, "which has made it possible to strengthen interoperability between police forces and consolidate trust between our countries".
Between June and August, Spain also participated, in collaboration with Europol, Ameripol and Aseanapol, in an international operation against drug trafficking, which culminated in more than 12,500 arrests and more than 820 tonnes of drugs seized.
Bilateral meetings with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain
During his trip to Abu Dhabi and within the framework of the ISA, Grande-Marlaska held bilateral meetings with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to whom he acknowledged his country's "leadership" in the consolidation of the Alliance, and with the Minister for Home Affairs of Bahrain, Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, whom he congratulated on the success of the organisation of the ISALEX 3.0 exercise.
On Wednesday, the minister will meet with a group of Emirati doctors and doctoral students, mostly civil servants in the areas of Education, Economics and Defence, who have completed postgraduate studies at the University of Cordoba related to the area of interest of the Ministry of Home Affairs such as the prevention of radicalisation or emergency management.
Non official translation