The Minister for Home Affairs, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, and his Saudi counterpart, Mohammed bin Nayef al Saud, after signing the agreement to strengthen security cooperation
The document also identifies cooperation in security at major sporting events and in public spaces, as well as border control and cybersecurity as areas open to the "exchange of experiences and working methods" between police forces of both countries in order to "enrich their operational practices", explained Grande-Marlaska during the meeting.
The minister acknowledged the "close collaboration" that already exists between the Spanish and Saudi security forces and bodies, and stressed the "crucial geostrategic importance" for both countries of the current international context, with the situation in Gaza, the war in Ukraine and developments in the Sahel and the Maghreb at the forefront.
Regarding the fight against terrorism, both ministers agreed on the importance of maintaining "fluid coordination channels" to exchange operational information and to promote initiatives to encourage the early detection of messages that promote radicalisation and disinformation campaigns.
During the meeting in Riyadh, Spain and Saudi Arabia pledged to strengthen cooperation mechanisms in judicial police to combat organised crime. Grande-Marlaska praised Saudi's approval last January to establish an Interpol regional centre for the Middle East and North Africa, "an initiative that will facilitate international police cooperation in the fight against transnational crime in the region," he said.
The two Home Affairs Ministers will promote collaboration between police training institutions. To this end, the minister will visit the Naif Arab University for Security Sciences (NAUSS), "a benchmark" in security training and research, said Grande-Marlaska, who stressed its "key" role in the construction of a "secure and stable" Arab space.
The Spanish delegation, which also includes the Director General for International Relations and Foreigners, Elena Garzón, will travel to the National Security Operations Centre this Thursday before flying back to Madrid.
Non official translation