During this high-level meeting, participants will examine the review of activities scheduled for the year 2022, the finalization of the 2023 action plan and also the finalization of the joint ministerial statement, which will be approved and signed at the 18th meeting of Ministers of Defense of the Initiative’s member countries, scheduled for December 16, 2022 in Rabat, the General Staff of the FAR said in a statement.
On this occasion, acting on behalf of Lieutenant General, Inspector General of the FAR and Commander of the South Zone, Brigadier General Mohamed Haial has, in his opening remarks, welcomed “the efforts of all member countries that actively contribute to the dynamism of this 5+5 Initiative Defense.”
He also emphasized the efforts made by all member countries for the “successful” conduct of activities scheduled in 2022. These activities include the planning and conduct of various exercises, the execution of training and research conducted by the College “5 + 5 Defense” and the Euro-Maghreb Center for Research and Strategic Studies “CEMRES”, and the implementation of projects of the Initiative, said the same source.
The 35th CODIR meeting of the 5+5 Defense Initiative will be marked by the presentation of the results of research of “CEMRES” and an update on the progress of the Cyber Forum and the Training Center on humanitarian demining, and also by sharing a feedback “Retex” in relation to the exercise of maritime surveillance “SEABORDER 2022” and the gender approach in external military operations, added the statement.
The proposed action plan, under the year 2023, provides for an increase of about 20% in cooperation activities.
In this context, the FAR intend to organize seven activities, including a search and rescue exercise, two training modules, three seminars and a meeting of the naval coordination group. This contribution reflects Morocco’s commitment to the Initiative, as well as its attachment to its objectives, as a fundamental pillar for cooperation between the armies of the member countries of the Initiative.
Created in 2004, the “5+5 Defense” Initiative is a forum for consultation and multilateral understanding between the two shores of the Western Mediterranean. This forum constitutes a preferential framework for mutual knowledge and exchanges on relevant topics related, in particular, to maritime security, air safety, the contribution of the armed forces to the management of major disasters and academic research and training.
