France Seeks Morocco's Help to Secure 2024 Paris Olympics

France has requested assistance from Morocco in providing security for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin met with his Moroccan counterpart in Rabat, where he thanked Morocco for its cooperation on security, counterterrorism, and support for the upcoming Olympics.

As part of the security arrangements, Moroccan police officers and deminers will be deployed to France to patrol and provide additional demining capabilities at Olympic venues. In total, France expects to receive support from 2,500 foreign police officers and gendarmes to help secure the Games.

During his visit, Darmanin praised Morocco's intelligence services, stating that "without the Moroccan intelligence services, France would be more heavily impacted by terrorism." He emphasized the importance of the two countries helping each other "during the major sporting events," including the 2024 Olympics and the 2025 African Cup of Nations in Morocco.

Why this matters: The security cooperation between France and Morocco highlights the global nature of counterterrorism efforts and the importance of international collaboration in ensuring the safety of major sporting events. The 2024 Paris Olympics will be a high-profile target for potential terrorist threats, and the support from countries like Morocco will be vital in mitigating those risks.

The visit by Darmanin is part of a broader diplomatic effort to renew and modernize Franco-Moroccan relations, which have been strained in recent years over issues such as visa restrictions and France's diplomatic overtures towards Algeria. The resumption of cooperation on the issuance of consular passes, which were previously a point of contention, is another positive development in the bilateral relationship.

Darmanin also noted that France is closely monitoring information provided by Morocco concerning "the threat penetrating the Sahel-Saharan strip," underscoring the ongoing security challenges in the region. The withdrawal of French troops from several Sahel countries has created a vacuum that has seen an increase in Russian military involvement, further complicating the security landscape.

The French authorities remain vigilant against potential terrorist threats to the Olympics, as evidenced by the recent arrest of a 16-year-old youth who allegedly posted on social media about wanting to die as a martyr at the Games. France has raised its security alert to the highest level in response to conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, as well as the persistent threat of Islamist militant attacks.

Key Takeaways

• France requests Morocco's security assistance for 2024 Paris Olympics.
• Moroccan police and deminers to patrol and provide demining at Olympic venues.
• France praises Morocco's intelligence services in countering terrorism.
• Security cooperation aims to mitigate terrorist threats to the Olympics.
• France raises security alert due to conflicts and Islamist militant threats.