Rabat – France’s top diplomat has cast doubt on the immediate prospect of full diplomatic relations between Algiers and Paris, signaling that France expects the bilateral ties to further deteriorate in the near future. Jean-Noel Barrot said in an interview with RTL on Sunday, “We wish to maintain the best relations with Algeria, but that is not the case today.”
The chief of French diplomacy stressed the significance of the “Algiers Declaration for a Renewed Partnership,” which the two countries signed during Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Algeria in 2022.
He indicated, however, France’s worry about Algerian authorities’ commitment to this roadmap.
Minister Barrot’s comments confirm there has been no progress toward improvement of bilateral relations between Algiers and Paris.
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Barrot’s comments reflect a cold atmosphere in the relations between the two countries, especially as Algeria has been without an ambassador in France for five months now.
Relations between the two countries began to deteriorate after Macron announced in late July last year his decision to recognize Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara.
The French move, which took many by surprise, prompted the Algerian regime to recall its ambassador to Paris, Sadi Moussi.
In December, Algeria accused French intelligence services of plotting “destabilizing activities” in the country. To signal the seriousness of the accusations, the Algerian foreign ministry took the solemn step of summoning the French ambassador to Algeria, Stephane Romatet.
In a further sign of the increasingly strained relations between Algiers and Paris, French authorities have in recent days arrested pro-regime Algerian influencers on charges of inciting violence against Algerian dissidents.
With Algeria threatening to suspend all trade relations with France over its newfound support for the Moroccan stance in the Western Sahara dispute, Algiers-Paris bilateral relations are widely expected to hit a new low in the near future.
