Algeria: diplomatic shift under fire from opposition

Algeria’s change of position on key diplomatic issues, such as the war on Iran, Palestine, and the Western Sahara, has led opposition parties to accuse the government of disrespecting historical principles, reports Le Matin d’Algerie on 4th March.

Algeria had been known for its strong anti-imperialist stance and its non-alignment with Western powers, and its fight for the recognition of African colonisation as a crime.

However, since Donald Trump’s re-election in 2024, Algeria has been unusually silent on many diplomatic issues, adopting a more pragmatic stance.

On the situation in Gaza, for instance, despite the strong support it had expressed for Palestinian resistance in the past, the Tebboune regime voted for a US-backed resolution at the UN Security Council in November 2025, which demanded the disarmament of Hamas.

This decision was particularly decried by opposition parties, who accused the government of aligning itself with the “Zionist-American project”.

The Islamic MSP (Movement of Society for Peace), Algeria’s third-largest political party, added that this vote didn’t reflect the position of the majority of Algerians who remain loyal to Palestinians and their plight. 

The government responded with an official statement reaffirming its commitment to the Palestinian cause and noting that it had used its mandate at the Security Council to protect the population of Gaza and guarantee humanitarian aid.

Similarly, Algeria did not issue an official statement on the US-led abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in January, despite the close ties between both leaders.

It has not commented on the ongoing US-led negotiations on the Western Sahara conflict, despite the Trump administration presenting the Moroccan plan as the only option on the table.

The latest development in the Middle East has confirmed the Algerian regime’s shift away from its longstanding alliances: there has been no message of condolences for the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, nor condemnation of the US-Israeli offensive on Tehran.

While some interpret this unusual silence as a pragmatic stance in a rapidly evolving situation, others see it as a sign that Algeria is bowing to American pressure.

Le Matin d’Algérie, Algeria Press Service, Maghrebi.org