Motivations Behind Algeria’s Focus on Deepening Economic Cooperation with the Trump Administration

It appears that Algeria is moving towards a review of its foreign policy with the United States, as evidenced by recent Algerian actions and statements that send messages to Washington affirming Algeria’s readiness to improve relations and enhance rapprochement with the Trump administration. In this context, Algeria is intensifying its efforts to gain the favor of President Donald Trump, announcing its readiness to “discuss” a deal with the United States regarding its rich natural and mineral resources.

This was expressed by the Algerian ambassador in Washington in an interview with an American media outlet, where Sabri Boukadoum, on March 9, 2025, conveyed his country’s strong desire to deepen economic cooperation with the United States following Donald Trump’s return to the White House. This indicates a new political direction for Algeria aimed at bringing it closer to the American camp, raising questions about the motivations behind this Algerian inclination to deepen economic cooperation with the Trump administration at this particular time.

Multiple Motivations

There seem to be several factors driving Algeria’s pursuit of deeper economic cooperation with the United States at this time, including:

Algeria’s Desire to Capitalize on the Economic Trends of the Trump Administration: This Algerian approach coincides with Donald Trump’s pressure on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for U.S. dominance over rare minerals in Ukraine as “financial compensation” for military aid provided to Ukraine during the Biden administration, in light of Russia’s military intervention. Since Trump’s return to the White House on January 20, 2025, the Algerian ambassador has intensified messages of openness towards the United States, stating in February during an interview with Business Fox: “We are open and optimistic. Our goal is to enhance bilateral relations and contribute to global security.” Boukadoum urged the Trump administration to utilize Algeria’s potential in agriculture, renewable energy, natural resources, and tourism. In this regard, Boukadoum confirmed that Algeria is “ready to talk” about its abundant natural resources and vital minerals that are in global demand. He stated, “Let me be clear, as a foreign diplomat, do not forget that we have no preferences. Therefore, we are working with [every] administration. Naturally, we try to sell our potential to the new administration. With President Trump, who said he supports deals. Thus, we will try [to help the administration] see the benefits of working with Algeria.”

Controlling Any Hostile American Actions Against Algeria: Especially given the positions of some officials in the Trump administration regarding Algeria, particularly U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who previously called for sanctions against Algeria due to its relations with Russia. In 2022, Rubio sent a message to Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging the U.S. government to impose sanctions on Algeria, one of the largest global buyers of military equipment from Russia, expressing his significant concerns regarding defense purchases between Algeria and Russia.

Sending Reassuring Messages About Algeria-Russia Relations: It can be argued that in light of the entrenched stereotype among Trump administration officials concerning the “alliance with Moscow,” Algeria seeks to transcend this stereotype by emphasizing its openness to deepening its military and economic relations with the United States. This is particularly relevant given the noticeable decline in Russian-Algerian relations in recent years due to disagreements over Russian presence in the African Sahel region and Algeria’s concerns regarding its implications for its security and southern borders.

Reaching Understandings on the Western Sahara Issue: During his first term, President Trump recognized Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, and Algerians fear Trump may fulfill his promise made in December 2020 to open a consulate in Dakhla or label the Polisario Front as a terrorist organization on the U.S. list. Thus, Algeria is attempting to sway the U.S. position to prevent escalating actions favorable to Morocco and to reach understandings to initiate dialogue and negotiations that would allow Algeria to mitigate its political losses regarding the ongoing Moroccan-Algerian conflict over this issue, particularly after Paris announced its support for Morocco’s autonomy proposal in the Sahara and as several European countries lean toward supporting the Moroccan proposal.

Potential Implications

These Algerian movements are expected to impact Algeria’s foreign policy and its international and regional relationships as follows:

Strengthening Economic Cooperation Between the United States and Algeria: Despite the U.S. position supporting Morocco’s autonomy initiative in Western Sahara and the growing political and military alliance between the two sides, it is anticipated that the Trump administration will work on enhancing economic cooperation with Algeria. Notably, during the previous administration of President Joe Biden, the Algerian agency for the valorization of hydrocarbons signed an investment agreement with the American company Chevron for a study on the potential of hydrocarbon resources in offshore areas its aforementioned American company operates in. Therefore, it is expected that the Trump administration will focus on boosting economic cooperation and harnessing Algeria’s potentials in minerals and oil.

Growing Pragmatic Algerian Approaches Toward Russia: This Algerian effort to enhance closeness with the Trump administration indicates that Algeria will likely adopt a pragmatic approach in its relations with Moscow moving forward, especially given the current tensions regarding Russian military presence in the Sahel region, which is expected to expand in the coming period, along with Algeria’s desire to contain any hostile U.S. actions at this time. This is particularly pertinent as continuous threats from French officials regarding sanctions against Algeria emerge amidst growing tensions between the two countries.

Increased Russian Movements to Strengthen Relations with Morocco: These Algerian actions are expected to incite parallel Russian movements aimed at enhancing ties with Morocco, particularly regarding security coordination between Russia and Morocco in the African Sahel. The current Russian-American rapprochement is likely to create a conducive environment for deepening political and security understandings between Rabat and Moscow in the Sahel, especially in light of Morocco’s growing political and security role in that region. Reports from international sources have affirmed Morocco’s intention to build a military base in the south of the country to address terrorist threats in the Sahel, which necessitates Russia coordinating its policy with Morocco, particularly in the context of its tense relations with Algeria regarding security approaches to address developments in the Sahel.

Limited Rapprochement

In summary, while Algeria is expected to be keen on deepening economic cooperation with the Trump administration, many challenges remain to achieve full political rapprochement between Washington and Algeria. This is particularly relevant given Algeria’s commitments and relationships with certain regional powers such as Iran, which will pose significant challenges for establishing a normalization agreement between Algeria and Israel, a process subject to internal pressures that could affect President Tebboune’s legitimacy and popularity within Algeria.

Tebboune has consistently adhered to a political discourse supporting the Palestinian cause and opposing normalization with Israel in contrast to Morocco’s stance, thus the likely scenario for the future of rapprochement between Washington and Algeria is one of limited closeness which will remain within the confines of each side using the other as leverage against other powers. It is expected that Algeria will leverage its closeness with the Trump administration as pressure on Moscow, while Washington will seek to capitalize on the Moroccan-Algerian rivalry to secure Algeria’s acceptance of a normalization agreement with Israel while maintaining a strategic alliance with Morocco.