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Rabat – Several aspects of Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf’s recent visit to Washington D.C. have brought to the spotlight the US’ apprehension about the North African country’s increasing rapprochement with Russia and China, according to Algerian journalist Oualid Kebir.
The visit is noteworthy due to “the American apprehension” about Algeria’s development of relations with the eastern axis of Russia and China, Kebir told Morocco World News (MWN).
“As a result, the ruling regime of Algeria finds itself in a dilemma, because as much as they threw themselves into the arms of Russia and China, it cannot afford to forsake Western support, as it is essential for ensuring its survival,” he added.
America’s concern stems from the money that Algeria gives Russia in arms deals, and how this can be used to fund Moscow’s military efforts in Ukraine, the journalist added, recalling that US senators had previously requested sanctions on Algeria’s government for that reason.
“Secondly, the US wants to know the specifics of coordination between Russia and Algeria regarding this apparent incursion towards the Sahel so that Russia can alleviate the pressure of the war,” he explained.
Kebir also drew attention to the fact that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken did not post a picture with Attaf on his social media platforms, which is usually protocol for such visits.
“These details have political implications, suggesting that the American administration is not satisfied with the behavior of the ruling regime of Algeria, and that the future for a relationship with the US depends on Algeria’s cooperation and refrain from deepening its relationship with Russia,” Kebir elaborated.
The American administration therefore would not want the Algerian regime to offer any more compromises to Russia.
Read also: US State Department Disputes Algeria’s Statement on Western Sahara
The American administration is also concerned about Russia establishing a foothold in the West of the Mediterranean as it already has done in Syria, through the Hmeimim and Tartus bases.
Besides these apparent tensions, a statement released by the US following the visit also disputed Algeria’s claims about the talks that the two had regarding the Western Sahara issue.
A statement from Algeria’s Foreign Affairs Ministry claimed that the meeting between Blinken and Attaf was an opportunity to discuss the territorial dispute. The statement spoke of the two top diplomats “reiterating” their countries’ “support for the efforts of the Personal Envoy of the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Staffan de Mistura, aimed at enabling the two parties to the conflict to engage seriously and without preconditions in the UN-led political process.”
However, the US State Department said that the two “reiterated full support for Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General Staffan de Mistura as he consults intensively with all concerned [parties] to achieve a political solution for Western Sahara.”
While Algeria has continued to shirk its responsibility in the regional dispute, the US has been one of the countries that voiced their support for Morocco’s autonomy plan and its sovereignty over its southern provinces.
