Algeria and the U.S. Strengthen Military Ties with New Security Agreement
The two nations are developing short-term executive plans for enhanced security cooperation, intelligence sharing, and potential arms deals under a newly signed memorandum of understanding.
Watan-Algerian Ambassador to the United States, Sabri Boukadoum, stated that Algeria and the U.S. are in the process of developing short-term executive plans to strengthen their security partnership, with the possibility of arms deals, as part of the new bilateral agreement signed last January.
During a meeting with journalists at the Algerian Embassy in Washington, Boukadoum explained that the Algerian-American memorandum of understanding provides a legal framework for military cooperation that has existed for years, noting that it “opens the door to many future opportunities.”
He added that maritime intelligence sharing and arms purchases are among the first areas the two sides seek to enhance, alongside cooperation in search and rescue operations and counterterrorism efforts in the Sahel region and beyond.
Algeria-U.S. Military Cooperation Expands with New Initiatives
The ambassador confirmed that representatives from both countries are working on forming three new working groups to outline the steps for implementing the memorandum of understanding. When asked about Algeria’s priorities in expanding this military cooperation, Boukadoum said, “The sky is the limit,” signaling the ambitious scope of the partnership.
Boukadoum also addressed geopolitical dynamics in Africa, highlighting the growing influence and investments of both Russia and China in the region. He emphasized that “Algeria’s advantage for the U.S. is its human factor,” stressing that intelligence gathering is not limited to advanced technologies such as satellites and wiretapping but also requires “an understanding of communities, tribes, and local interactions” to obtain accurate information.
In January, the commander of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), General Michael Langley, visited Algeria, where he was received by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and the Chief of Staff of the Algerian Army, General Saïd Chengriha. During that visit, the two sides signed a “memorandum of understanding on military cooperation between the Algerian Ministry of National Defense and the U.S. Department of Defense.”
Although the memorandum was formalized under President Joe Biden’s administration, Boukadoum expressed confidence that Algerian-American relations would remain strong during Donald Trump’s second term.
Algeria Eyes U.S. Partnerships Beyond Security, Seeks Economic Cooperation
Beyond security cooperation, the ambassador indicated that Algeria is open to exploring collaboration opportunities with the U.S. in natural resources and critical minerals, which are in high global demand. He also highlighted Algeria’s potential as a low-cost alternative for hosting data centers compared to existing options.
He elaborated: “Let me be very clear—as a foreign diplomat, we do not have preferences. We work with every administration. Naturally, we strive to promote our potential to the new administration. President Trump has stated that he believes in making deals, and we will work to showcase the benefits the U.S. can gain from cooperation with Algeria.”
During Trump’s first term, relations between the two countries were stable, except for the final days of his presidency when he pushed for Arab nations to join the Abraham Accords and normalize relations with Israel. Algeria strongly opposed this initiative, with its president rejecting normalization at the expense of the Palestinian cause.
That period also witnessed tensions between the two nations following Trump’s decision to recognize Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara in exchange for Rabat’s recognition of Israel and the normalization of ties. Algeria, known for its firm support of the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination under UN resolutions, has consist
