Some European officials are looking carefully at Morocco’s emerging practices for fighting radicalization in the region.
“Morocco has managed to develop a very early detection system of radicalization signs,” Gilles de Kerchove, the European Union’s counterterrorism coordinator, told the Maghreb Arab Press in November.
De Kerchove said Europe “has a lot to learn from Morocco” in terms of security, citing strong border work and monitoring.
However, not all Europeans have the same beliefs. For instance, in an August article in Morocco World News, the writer outlines how some European news outlets tend to label Morocco as a “breeding ground for terrorism,” while others recognize proactive programs such as a Moroccan initiative that combats extremism in prisons and promotes the reintegration of prisoners into Moroccan society. Examples like this are concrete markers of Morocco’s proactive work against the destabilization of nations by radicals.
Some note that terrorists tend to take their activities to Spain because Morocco is at the core place for them to work in, as in recent a Sputnik News commentary.
Will Morocco’s dedicated work win it more than just accolades?
Geopolitical activist and amateur current affairs analyst Kenneth West believes it should.
“They’re on the front line,” West said of Moroccan government officials and law enforcement professionals. “Somebody better be — because groups like al Qaeda are destabilizing populations. The Middle East is erupting in absolute chaos.”
West cited recent events in Saudi Arabia and Lebanon. He also mentioned the volatility of other regions, such as the historic nuclear standoff between India and Pakistan, something he said is in particular trouble lately.
“They’re in jeopardy of a coup,” West said of Pakistan, citing other threats like a proxy war in Yemen, Iranian influence, and other factors that have Americans and others nervous.
“Also,” West said, referring to ISIS in Libya, “You can’t forget what’s going on right outside Morocco’s door.”
However, West said, in many ways the bottom line is that world conflicts are more likely to center around economics than anything else.
“It’s all revolving around economic war right now,” West said. “The Chinese are winning.”
In economic terms, West said, it could very well be that Morocco will be able to turn its security savvy into real profits. If other regions continue to destabilize, and the government can provide a clear and concrete roadmap to civil stability, he said, it could become out one of Morocco’s “soft exports.”
