France joining hands with Monaco to secure its coast

Nahla Abdelmonem

France has been beefing up security inside it to prevent terrorist activities from taking root and growing.

This follows a series of Islamist attacks in different parts of the European state, against the background of the publication and republication of cartoons offensive to Islam’s prophet Muhammad.

The cartoons were used by terrorists to carry out attacks and threaten the security of the French society.

The latest attacks have encouraged the French government to formulate new constitutional mechanisms to rein in Islamist groups and boost security with neighboring states.

On 26 March, France signed a memorandum of understanding on counterterrorism with the Principality of Monaco.

Fighting terrorism in Monaco

Monaco is a small, but sovereign city on the French Riviera. It is important for France because it is located in close proximity to Nice, the capital of the Alpes-Maritimes.

Nice has been the site of a number of terrorist attacks in the past period, especially after terrorism by Islamist groups took on an international proportion.

Cooperation between the French government and the Principality of Monaco acquires great importance, especially in the light of the desire of French authorities to beef up security on the French coast which receives a large number of tourists every year.

The memorandum of understanding signed by the two sides opens the door for greater cooperation between them in the field of legal assistance in terrorism cases.

It also enables them to form joint investigation teams into potential cases of terrorism.