France and Algeria signed a military-security cooperation agreement during the visit of Said Chengrigha, the head of the ruling military junta.
After a series of visits, including one by Emmanuel Macron, the deal was reached. Officials from France and Algeria talked more about the past than the future during this visit.
Chengriha is also reported to have met Macron but it was forbidden for the media to film.
The visit by Algerian chief of staff is said to be preparatory for an upcoming visit to France by the civilian façade of the Algerian regime President Tebboune.
The expected negative impact of the cooperation deals on worsening Moroccan–French relations is anticipated. Morocco would suffer if a warlord regime is given legitimacy and cooperation promises.
It also shows France’s willingness to compromise to keep ties with an Algerian government that ironically used anti-French sentiment as a basis for popular legitimacy.
However, Macron and his administration ignore warnings from ex-diplomats who served in Algeria, including former ambassador Xavier Driencourt.
Driencourt warned in an op-ed published on Le Figaro that Algeria is economically, socially and politically in trouble and that France will follow it.
This romance between Macron and the Kingmaker of Algeria’s military dictatorship is taking place at a context Morocco endures repeated attacks instigated by French members of the European Parliament.
The same parliament chose the right time to focus on three Moroccan journalists charged with rape or sexual assault. It ignored the cases of thousands in Algeria of pro-democracy activists, journalists, and Kabyle activists being held arbitrarily at Algerian jails.
The Moroccan parliament strongly reacted to the double standards of European Parliament and condemned the active role played MEPs from an ironically friendly country, hinting at anti-Morocco activism by French representatives.
France and Europe will work hand in hand to get gas. This is because of the regime’s failing social and economic policies, and inability to stop illegal migration.
French and Algerian military cooperation at a time when Chengriha and Tebboune refer to Morocco as an enemy, and threaten to wage a war on Rabat is a sign that France doesn’t value its partnership with Morocco.
France seems to be more concerned with taking a chunk of Algeria’s colossal defense budget of 23 billion dollars than contributing to regional stability in the EU’s southern neighborhood.
Source: north africa post
