Algeria’s Ambassador to Washington, Sabri Boukadoum, notably avoided discussing "the Western Sahara" issue in an interview with the U.S. magazine Business Focus, instead focusing on a range of regional and international matters. This omission has raised eyebrows, given that the Sahara dispute remains a central pillar of Algeria’s foreign policy.
According to the interview, reviewed by Assahifa, Boukadoum’s decision to sidestep the Sahara issue—one of the main points of tension between Algeria and Morocco—comes as Algiers seeks to strengthen its relationship with the new U.S. administration under President Donald Trump. The move is particularly significant given that, during his first term in December 2020, Trump formally recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara.
The interview primarily addressed U.S.-Algerian relations, with Boukadoum affirming Algeria’s openness and optimism about enhancing cooperation with Washington. He highlighted recent contacts between Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf and newly appointed U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Boukadoum also emphasized the importance of security cooperation, revealing that Algeria has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Department of Defense, through AFRICOM, to bolster collaboration in search-and-rescue operations and intelligence sharing, particularly concerning the Sahel region.
While the discussion covered several African conflicts, including those in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sudan, there was no mention of the Sahara issue. This omission suggests that Algeria is keen to avoid any confrontation with the new U.S. administration over an issue where Trump has already taken a clear stance.
This position highlights a contradictory approach in Algeria’s foreign policy. While it seeks to avoid tensions with Washington, it has taken an increasingly assertive stance against France, particularly after President Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed France’s support for Morocco’s autonomy plan as the only viable solution to the dispute.
Algeria’s approach to the U.S. extends beyond merely avoiding confrontation; it is also actively seeking stronger ties with Washington. Boukadoum pointed to the growing presence of U.S. investment in Algeria, particularly in the energy, agriculture, and renewable energy sectors, underscoring Algeria’s ambition to attract American investors.
In this context, he also highlighted investment opportunities in the country’s mining sector, stressing that Algeria possesses vast natural resources, particularly in the southern and northern regions. He noted increasing interest from international investors, including Americans.
Observers of Algeria’s stance on Western Sahara view its overtures towards the Trump administration—despite Trump’s explicit recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty—as an attempt to prevent Washington from adopting even more pro-Moroccan policies that could decisively tilt the balance in Rabat’s favor.
Additionally, Algeria appears keen to avoid any potential punitive measures from the new U.S. administration, particularly given that key officials—most notably Secretary of State Marco Rubio—have previously called for sanctions on Algeria over its military ties with Russia and its procurement of Russian weaponry.
