Algeria, the largest country in Africa in terms of size, is also a major stakeholder in the geopolitics of North Africa. In recent times, while being in the thick of geopolitical action, Algeria has found itself at a crossroads as it navigates its way through the regional dynamics of North Africa, which bear a reflection of global politics.
The geopolitics of North Africa, which broadly represents competition between the United States (US) and the West on one side and Russia have regional powerhouses Morocco and Algeria as their respective allies. However, in the past one month, North Africa has been experiencing flux as the apparent adversaries the US and Algeria have shown signs of recalibrating their ties. Should this development result in greater proximity between Algeria and the US, the complexities in North Africa’s strategic landscape could increase.
It is therefore pertinent to consider the recent warmth in the Algeria-US ties parallel to Algeria’s ties with Europe as well as Algeria’s manoeuvring in North Africa.
Algeria and the US
On January 22, Algeria and the US signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen their strategic ties, which is called the US-Algeria Defence Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding. This MoU, signed between the commander of the US Africa Command, Marine Corps General Michael Langley, and Algeria’s Minister Delegate for National Defence and Chief of Army Staff General Said Chengriha, facilitates both countries to forge closer bilateral collaboration between their troops. Through this MoU, Algeria and the US intend to explore potential opportunities for cooperation in various areas such as maritime search and rescue, counterterrorism, military training, and military healthcare facilities. Further, a Joint Military Commission is set to meet annually to identify, guide, and review discrete opportunities and proposals for military cooperation.
Immediately after the Algeria-US MoU, NATO’s Special Representative for Southern Neighbourhood travelled to Algiers on January 28-29. This visit was focused on increasing NATO’s cooperation with Algeria over regional security issues.
On January 22, Algeria and the US signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen their strategic ties, which is called the US-Algeria Defence Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding. This MoU, signed between the commander of the US Africa Command, Marine Corps General Michael Langley, and Algeria’s Minister Delegate for National Defence and Chief of Army Staff General Said Chengriha
Algeria’s Complex Relations with Europe
With the US and NATO taking steps to improve ties with Algeria, there could be a few roadblocks along the way.
Algeria’s ties with the European countries remain complex. For the European countries, Algeria is a major source of energy supply while for Algeria, Europe is a principal market for energy exports.
However, Algeria’s political ties with European countries, in particular France, remain strained. Since July 2024, the Algeria-France ties have been on a downward spiral as France is unequivocally supporting Morocco’s position on Western Sahara. When French President Emmanuel Macron visited Morocco in October 2024, he reiterated Paris’s support to Rabat over Western Sahara.
Algeria’s engagements with the West could be further impacted due to the US’s discord with the European countries, in particular with the members of NATO. Since Donald Trump has become the president, his administration has been putting pressure on Europe to take responsibility for its security. The Trump administration has been calling for the European countries to step up their financial contribution to NATO. The discord between the US and the European countries has only increased with the US holding talks with Russia in Saudi Arabia in the absence of European countries and Ukraine.
Algeria’s relationship with the European countries has been complex. For the European countries, Algeria is a major source of energy supply while for Algeria, Europe is a principal market for energy exports. Algeria’s political ties with European countries, particularly France, remain strained
Russia may be the common factor for the US and the European Union (EU) to engage with Algeria. However, North Africa’s regional dynamics are also integral to shaping Algeria’s foreign engagements.
Flux in North Africa’s Strategic Landscape
An apparent thaw in the Algeria-US relations could lead to a greater flux in North Africa’s internal strategic landscape. The US eagerness to build strong ties with Algeria is aimed at restricting Russia’s influence in North Africa, especially in the Sahel. For Algeria too, improved ties with the US imply providing a counterbalance to Russia. In the past few years, Russia has been increasing its footprint in the Sahel, a region Algeria considers its backyard.
Countering Russia may be a common objective for the US and also for Algeria. However, there is still a lack of clarity as to how the interaction between Algeria and Morocco, a close ally of the US, would take shape in the future. For decades, Algeria and Morocco have been adversaries over several issues such as border disputes, pushing for regional influence, and the Western Sahara.
In particular, the Western Sahara issue could turn out to be a challenge for both Algeria and the US to work around. The status of Western Sahara, located in the northwest corner of Africa bordering Algeria, Morocco and Mauritania, remains contested. Morocco claims Western Sahara as its territory while Algeria supports the Polisario Front, a group fighting for the independence of Western Sahara.
Apart from the Western Sahara, Israel remains a disputed issue in North Africa. Morocco has ties with Israel while Algeria does not. Morocco established diplomatic ties with Israel in 2020 under the Abraham Accords facilitated by the US during Trump’s previous term as the president. In return for Morocco establishing ties with Israel, the US recognised Morocco’s claim over Western Sahara.
There is still a lack of clarity over how the interaction between Algeria and Morocco, a close ally of the US, would take shape in the future because Algeria and Morocco have been adversaries for decades over several issues such as border disputes, pushing for regional influence, and the Western Sahara
Amid the courting by the West, Algiers may also have subtly indicated softening its stand on Israel. However, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune was quick to clarify that Algeria would consider recognising Israel only after a Palestinian state was established.
The recent visit by France’s Culture Minister Rachida Dati to Western Sahara indicating France’s recognition of Morocco’s claim over the territory could further increase frictions in North Africa between Algeria on one side and Morocco and France on the other.
North Africa’s geopolitics has been characterised by several fault lines. The overtures by the US to court Algeria may not yield immediate results as Russia is not the only factor for Algeria to consider recalibration of its ties with the West.
–The writer is an Independent Political Analyst and Researcher based in Vadodara. Follow him on Twitter: @NiranjanMarjani. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
