Why Algeria is at the centre of a flurry of US diplomacy

Diplomatic momentum as geopolitics shift 

The increased contact between the countries comes when Algeria is committed to increased diplomatic engagement at a time when world politics is in flux.

With Russia taking a more active role in Africa, there have been reports of a $7bn arms deal between Algeria and Moscow. This may be one of the factors that has caught Washington's attention.

Read more: A new scramble for Africa is underway and Russia is vying for influence

But as well as sparking the round of engagement, there were also calls from 27 members of the US Congress for Blinken to consider imposing sanctions on Algiers.

Expert observers of Algerian politics and international relations agree the country's priorities are changing more broadly.

Qawi Bouhania, a political science professor at the University of Kasdi, says: "Algerian diplomacy is not solely reliant on a positional approach but rather embraces a multifaceted approach by cultivating diverse alliances while adhering to strategic principles."

And the approach comes when the pace of geopolitical change is brisk.

"We are currently navigating a climate of uncertainty, necessitating a crisis management strategy," he says. "Uncertainty is characterised by its intricate and fluctuating nature, prompting the establishment of multiple international partnerships. After all, who could have predicted the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic?"

"Such profound changes underscore the need for Algeria to analyse the prevailing circumstances and forge international partnerships accordingly comprehensively."

Seeking a balanced approach

Experts also suggest that Algeria is keen to push back against some of the more traditional ways its foreign policy is perceived.

Ali Bakchiche, a politics lecturer at Algerian University's Amar Telidji Laghouat, told Al Majalla the country is looking for a balanced approach.

"Algeria aims to assert its influence in accordance with its capabilities, prioritising balanced relations contrary to the perception that it exclusively leans toward the East, particularly Russia. The strategic ties between Algeria and Russia have influenced the perspectives of many, especially during the Ukrainian crisis."

The approaches from Washington come at a time when Algeria, for so long seen as an ally of Russia and China, may be ready for closer ties toward the West.  

"The United States acknowledges Algeria's strategic importance and influence in the oil market. Although not a strategic ally, Algeria remains an indispensable partner, especially given its mediating role in resolving conflicts in Africa," Bakchiche adds.

US foreign policy increasingly revolves around global economic and security objectives, specifically focusing on North Africa, particularly Algeria.

Read more: Eye on Niger: Who will win in a multipolar contest for Africa influence?

A departure from Trump's approach

This represents a shift from the approach adopted during the White House tenure of Donald Trump. The former president strained relations with Algeria when seeking a peace agreement with Israel.

Bakchiche points out that since then, "the US is determined not to relinquish its presence in the Algerian arena to Russia and China."

"It seeks to maintain its ties with Algeria, especially since bilateral relations faced a critical juncture due to Donald Trump's recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, disregarding three decades of American support for the region's people's right to self-determination through a referendum."

President Joe Biden has not explicitly reversed Trump's position, but it is thought he does not support it and is waiting for an opportunity to end a line taken in the end days of Trump's term of office.

Since the former president left, US decision-makers better recognise the strategic importance of Algeria and the risks of pushing it deeper into a sphere of influence dominated by Russia and China.

During the Trump era, diplomatic communication between the two countries was notably weak, if not virtually non-existent.

There were limited discussions on shared security and economic interests and few visits, although Secretary of Defence Mark Esper arrived in October 2020. His was the first visit of its kind since Donald Rumsfeld visited in 2005, which ended a lack of such high-level contact running back to 1962.

Crucial partner

"Algeria remains an authentic ally of the United States," says Dr Nour Sabah Aknouche, professor of political science at the University of Biskra, pointing out that the two countries' relations date back over two centuries.

She emphasises the need to recognise the depth, historical context, and the potential for future development. A strategic partnership may emerge between the two nations from the ongoing round of diplomacy, as Algeria seeks to balance its foreign policy.

Dr. Aknouche also points out that new factors amplify Algeria's importance to the United States. They are closely linked to US priorities, including counter-terrorism efforts and the management of armed groups along the African coast, from the Red Sea to the Atlantic Ocean.

Given the implications of these regional challenges for Washington, Algeria is viewed as a pivotal regional power and a crucial security partner in ensuring stability.

Algeria's military and technical capabilities, along with an in-depth understanding of dynamics in the Sahara Desert, make it a trustworthy and credible potential power for the US in the long term.