Defense Minister receives his Spanish Counterpart and Holds Official Talks

The Minister of Defense, Retirees Affairs and Children’s Martyrs, Hanana Ould Sidi, received, on Monday at the Ministry’s headquarters in Nouakchott, the Spanish Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, who is currently visiting our country at the head of an important delegation from the Spanish Ministry of Defense.

Upon her arrival at the headquarters of the Ministry of Defence, the two ministers reviewed a squad from the command, services and military music battalion of the national army, which paid them a tribute of honor, before the Spanish Minister of Defense shook hands with members of the Mauritanian delegation.

After that, the Minister of Defense and his Spanish counterpart held a session of official talks in the presence of the delegations of the two countries, during which they reviewed Mauritanian-Spanish relations, areas of cooperation between the two ministries of defense, and ways to enhance and develop them in order to achieve the common interests of the two friendly countries.

In a speech on the occasion,  the Minister of Defense, Retirees Affairs  and Children of Martyrs  said that this visit comes within the framework of periodic consultations and exchange meetings between the two countries, highlighting the strong relations woven by geographical, historical and cultural ties and common values and interests between the two countries.

The Minister also expressed his sincere thanks to the Spanish Minister, and through her to the Kingdom of Spain, for the continuous support and accompaniment she continues to provide to Mauritania in its efforts to ensure the security and stability of its borders.

The security situation in the Sahel region continues to deteriorate, insecurity, social and political stability and economic crisis continue to deteriorate, jeopardizing security and peace at the global, regional and continental levels, he said.

His Excellency the President of the Republic, Mr. Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani, Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, firmly believed that building peace and stability was essentially a collective undertaking and must be based on the principle of cooperation and solidarity.

The flow of refugees on Mauritanian territory has reached a critical threshold, he said, adding that the deteriorating security situation in the region is leading to an intensification of the flow of illegal migrants crossing our country towards Spain.

This situation is a strong economic, social and security pressure on host regions, he said, noting that Mauritania, aware of the potential risks associated with illegal immigration, is keen to strengthen its cooperation programs with Spain and Europe in general with regard to safe, orderly and regular migration, which requires strengthening our country’s efforts to control and secure its maritime and river borders.

To this end, Mauritania counts on the support of the Kingdom of Spain, both in the bilateral framework and in terms of our country’s partnership with the European Union, he said.

In turn, the Spanish Minister of Defense expressed her thanks to the Minister of Defense, Retirees and Children of Martyrs, and through him to Mauritania

In turn, the Spanish Minister of Defense expressed her thanks to His Excellency the Minister of Defense, Retirees and Children of Martyrs, and through him to Mauritania, for the hospitality and good reception, noting that the Spanish-Mauritanian relations are deeply rooted in history and include all fields related to the common interests between the two friendly countries.

She also affirmed her country’s support for Mauritania in its efforts to control and secure its borders.