Foreign relations of Algeria

Template:Short description Template:Sidebar with collapsible lists Since its independence from France in 1962, Algeria has pursued an activist foreign policy. In the 1960s and 1970s, Algeria was noted for its support of Third World policies and independence movements. Since its independence, Algeria has been a member of the Arab League, the African Union and of the United Nations.

History of foreign relations since independence

During Ben Bella's presidency (1962–1965)

Following its independence in 1962, Algeria developed deep ties with many foreign countries with a heavy presence in the global scene. The Algerian government, pursuing the dynamics that had started during the Algerian War for Independence and into the Cold War used the country's strategic geopolitical position – at the crossroads of Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa and the Arabian world – to assert its own interests. Algeria came to see itself as a full actor in the Cold War and not simply a bystander caught in a crossfire between the Western and Eastern blocs. Moreover, Algeria played a central role in the creation of the Third World as a global political project, using its position at the intersection of international agendas – notably between non-alignment and Afro-Asianism positions, and between anticolonial and socialist movements.

Algeria at the center of the competition between the Western and Eastern superpowers

Being a newly independent country from colonial rule of a Western power – France – and having waged a liberation war with a socialist orientation, Algeria was naturally inclined to turn towards the Soviet Union and its allies. However, the country's strategic advantages increased its importance to the eyes of the Western bloc. Primarily, France wanted to preserve its interests in the oil and gas exploitations in Algeria. As Charles de Gaulle stated to the Algerian finance minister in 1963, "If the Algerian government respects its commitments and takes into account our interests, it can count on our cooperation". Hence, French economic aid continued to flow in Algeria, to ensure control on the petroleum and gas industry as well as maintain continued use of Algerian soil to run atomic tests in the Saharan desert. Under Ben Bella, diplomatic relations with France were normalized, the negotiations concerning oil and gas leading to an agreement in 1964. As to the United States, they wanted to prevent Algeria from becoming yet another socialist country joining the ranks of the Soviet bloc. Hence, along with minor military equipment, the United States provided Algeria with a food program (PL-480) which delivered free food to the population. However, the Algerian commitment to supporting anti-colonial movements in Africa went against American interests in the continent, which led to an indirect conflict with the United States and an increasingly hostile relationship between the two countries.

During the war for independence, the ALN had already benefitted from equipment, training and advice from communist countries: the USSR (though its help was quite timid until the final months of the war), China, Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia. Moreover, ALN delegations had visited China and North Vietnam to learn from their guerrilla strategies. Help and support from the communist bloc therefore increased after independence:

• Even though Algeria was not a communist regime, the Soviet Union invested massive amounts of money and material help in the country. For instance, in 1963, the USSR granted $200 million in import credits for Soviet machinery to help build the Algerian industry, and committed to building a petrochemical research institute. The Soviet Union also agreed to buy agricultural products and minerals that Algeria was struggling to export. It was finally the country's main military supplier, providing planes, tanks, armored vehicles, ships, light weapons and ammunition for a total of 11 billion dollars from 1962 to 1989.
• The other great communist power, China, demonstrated its interest in Algeria as a fellow antiimperialist country. Hence, when Zhou Enlai visited Algeria in December 1963, he granted Algeria a low-interest loan of $100 million. Moreover, the Chinese were more aggressive in their support for armed groups fighting imperialist and neo-imperialist regimes in Africa. Algeria and China therefore cooperated on this matter, with China contributing to ANP training camps, and shipping weapons and revolutionary militants to Algeria.

The Sino-Soviet split strengthened the two communist countries' competition for Algeria. However, China was inferior economically and militarily to the USSR, and could not match the USSR's industrial equipment and sophisticated armaments. Moreover, as the autogestion model proved to be widely inefficient, Algeria started to move towards a more centralized and Soviet-style economy by the end of 1964.

Algeria and the Third World project

Ben Bella's foreign policy was marked by globalism, as it was not restrained to a specific culture nor geographical region. Rather, the project of the Third World and its diverse manifestations – the Non-Aligned Movement, the Afro-Asian People's Solidarity Organization, etc. – were meant to include all the developing and anti-imperialist countries, and Algeria intended to play a major role in its development.

This role is perfectly summarized by Amilcar Cabral's – leader of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde – famous declaration that Algeria was the "Mecca of revolution". Indeed, the Algerian foreign policy had been influenced by Frantz Fanon's and other radical Third World thinkers' urgings to "export revolution" to other countries suffering from the yoke of imperial oppression. Therefore, the support of armed nationalists and revolutionaries was one of the foundations of Algerian relations with African countries. Ever since 1960, the FLN camps in Algeria's neighboring countries (Morocco, Tunisia and Mali) had been used to provide training and material help to revolutionary movements. By 1963, Algeria was offering refuge, funds, weapons and training to rebels from a dozen African countries: the left-wing opposition in Morocco, the secessionist Sanwi government in Ivory Coast, the Sawaba party in Niger, the CNL (or "Simbas") in Congo-Leopoldville, the UPC in Cameroon, the MPLA and FNLA in Angola (250 recruits were trained in Algeria and 70 tons of armaments were sent to this country), and several armed groups in Zanzibar, Portuguese Guinea, South Africa and Namibia.

However, the Third World project also materialized through the various conferences and international organizations that united developing countries. Firstly, the Non-Aligned Movement, which was founded in Belgrade in 1961, and which Algeria joined shortly after its independence, defined the concept of non-alignment in the Cold War as a way for poor countries to exploit the conflicts and tensions and hence to promote their own interests. According to Jeffrey J. Byrne, the Algerian conception of the Non-Aligned Movement was that of a "political, goal-oriented and geographically unbounded anti-imperial solidarity". The Third World coalition could therefore encompass Latin America countries, and even Europe ones like Yugoslavia. Algeria was particularly important in this sense, as it acted as a bridge between blocs and regions. For instance, its position at the crossroads of the Arab and the sub-Saharan worlds enabled Algeria to create links and unity between these two regions: at Algeria's request, Arab countries supported Angolan and other African revolutions, while African countries endorsed the Palestinian cause. However, these global Third World solidarity links went further than Africa: for example, the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam opened a permanent office in Algiers (one of only two that were located in non-communist countries). One of the most successful Third World projects was the Organization of African Unity, founded in Addis Ababa in 1963 to formalize and institutionalize the main Third World principles. Moreover, Algeria advocated for the creation within the organization of a "liberation committee", the "Committee of Nine", to support national liberation movements (even by military means). This embodies the Algerian view of Third Worldism: the institutionalization of collective defiance towards the imperial system.

Therefore, if the multipolarity of international relations – the traditional East versus West bipolarism, but also the intra-communist poles and the development of Third World alternatives – had benefitted the non-aligned states such as Algeria, the latter's increasing reliance on the Soviet Union – especially since the Sand War against Morocco in 1963 – risked jeopardizing the country's independence and its relations with other powers, such as the United States or China.

During Boumediene's presidency (1965–1978)

Algerian foreign relations during the presidency of Houari Boumediene marked a shift towards more stable and Algero-centered policies, in opposition to Ben Bella's cosmopolitism. However, this greater focus on the country's economic needs and traditional Islamic culture did not end the period of international ambitions.

Algeria's centrality in the Third World

Pan-Africanism and Pan-Arabism were strengthened during the Boumediene era. Algeria had joined the Arab League in 1962, and hosted its 1973 summit in Algiers. This strong relation with other Arab countries, notably with Egypt, was reinforced after Boumediene's seizure of power. For instance, in 1966, Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser sent thousands of teachers to support Algeria in the Arabization of its educational system. After Nasser's death in 1970, Boumediene increasingly represented the political project of Pan-Arabism; and in 1973, Algeria played a major role in the organization of the war against Israel, as well as calling for oil to be used as a weapon in the OPEC. Moreover, in 1969, Algiers hosted the Pan-African Cultural Festival: this grandiose display of an African identity, forged from the continent's common experience of Western imperialism, reunited anticolonial militants from numerous countries of the Third World. Far from being opposed, Pan-Arabism and Pan-Africanism were, under Algerian influence, united: Boumediène summoned an extraordinary session of the Organization for African Unity following the Kippur War in 1973, which resulted in the creation of a special committee to coordinate the Organization and the Arab League, and in the break of diplomatic relations of 42 African states with Israel. Finally, Boumediène presided over a larger and more powerful Non-Aligned Movement in 1973.

Algeria's approach to international politics was motivated by the need for a "liberation" from the Western neocolonial economic superiority. Hence, in October 1967, Algiers hosted the meeting of the "Group of 77", which united 77 developing countries on major revendications: a global reform of the terms of trade and a greater collaboration between Third World countries to set the prices for their raw materials. Furthermore, the main points of Boumediene's address to the United Nations General Assembly in 1974 – reparations for colonization and a transfer of resources from North to South – were adopted by UN. The notion of a "new international economic order" emerged as a way to reshape the world economy to the benefit of developing countries, based on the principle of sovereign equality between states.

A careful equilibrium between Cold War powers

Boumediene took pride in Algeria's non-aligned status, by claiming its distance from both Soviet-style socialism and Western capitalism, while the country enjoyed an increasing prosperity. However, support from the Communist bloc did not halt. Indeed, because of their dependence on raw materials and their lack of hard currencies, commerce between Third World countries was negligible. The USSR, on the contrary, was able to deliver military equipment, industrial expertise, and trade outputs: the Soviets replaced France as the first destination for Algerian wine, and provided 200,000 tons of wheat when a drought hit the country in 1966.

Once again, the support Algeria received from the Soviet bloc was not exclusive to that of the Western bloc. Even though Boumediene took strong public stands, as when he claimed in 1969 after a summer of violence against Algerians living in France that if the French government could not insure the security of Algerian immigrants, he would repatriate them regardless of the cost, Algerian-French relations were progressively normalized during the 1970 decade. This posturing, like the nationalization of oil in 1971, served to increase his popularity in internal politics. However, France remained a model of prosperity, Algeria was still heavily dependent on France economically, and in 1975, French President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing made the first presidential visit since independence. More generally, Algeria continued to do business with the West, and avoided to be overly dependent on Soviet support. Indeed, despite the break of relations with the United States after the Six-Day War in 1967, the Americans had almost replaced France as Algeria's primary trade partner by the early 1970s. Therefore, the competition between the West and the USSR gave Algeria opportunities to diversify its economic partnerships.

During Bouteflika's presidency (1999 - 2019)

Since his inauguration in 1999, President Abdelaziz Bouteflika sought to extend Algeria's international influence, traveling extensively throughout the world. In July 2001, he became the first Algerian President to visit the US White House in 16 years.

He made official visits, among others, to France, South Africa, Italy, Spain, Germany, China, Japan, South Korea and Russia.

After Bouteflika (2019-)

On 24 August 2021, Algeria cut diplomatic relations with neighbouring Morocco, accusing Morocco of supporting a separatist group and hostile actions against Algeria. Morocco called the decision unjustified.

After the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Algeria has tried to keep good relations with both Russia and the West by remaining neutral at the UN on other votes.

Diplomatic relations

List of countries which Algeria maintains diplomatic relations with:

File:Diplomatic relations of Algeria.svg
#	Country	Date
1	North Korea	Template:Dts
2	China	Template:Dts
3	Mongolia
4	Russia	Template:DTS
5	Czech Republic	Template:Dts
6	Hungary	Template:Dts
7	Romania	Template:Dts
8	Poland	Template:Dts
9	Serbia	Template:Dts
10	Germany	Template:Dts
11	France	Template:Dts
12	India	Template:Dts
13	Syria	Template:Dts
14	United States	Template:Dts
15	Italy	Template:Dts
—	Morocco (suspended)	Template:Dts
16	Cuba	Template:Dts
17	Bulgaria	Template:Dts
18	Netherlands	Template:Dts
19	Norway	Template:Dts
20	Vietnam	Template:Dts
21	Egypt	Template:Dts
22	Switzerland	Template:Dts
23	Tunisia	Template:Dts
24	United Kingdom	Template:DtsTemplate:Better source needed
25	Brazil
26	Japan
27	Belgium	Template:Dts
28	Lebanon	Template:Dts
29	Spain	Template:Dts
30	Jordan	Template:Dts
31	Sri Lanka	Template:Dts
32	Finland	Template:Dts
33	Austria	Template:Dts
34	Albania	Template:Dts
35	Sweden	Template:Dts
36	Ghana	Template:Dts
37	Chile
38	Turkey	Template:Dts
39	Mali	Template:Dts
40	Pakistan	Template:Dts
41	Libya	Template:Dts
42	Democratic Republic of the Congo	Template:Dts
43	Saudi Arabia	Template:Dts
44	Denmark	Template:Dts
45	Indonesia	Template:Dts
46	Cameroon	Template:Dts
47	Republic of the Congo	Template:Dts
48	Luxembourg
49	Guinea
50	Tanzania	Template:Dts
51	Mauritania	Template:Dts
52	Senegal	Template:Dts
53	Madagascar
54	Argentina	Template:Dts
55	Kenya
56	Uruguay
57	Iran	Template:Dts
58	Mexico	Template:Dts
59	Benin	Template:Dts
60	Kuwait	Template:Dts
61	Malaysia	Template:Dts
62	Yemen	Template:Dts
63	Niger	Template:Dts
64	Ivory Coast	Template:Dts
65	Canada	Template:Dts
66	Sudan	Template:Dts
67	Uganda	Template:Dts
68	Trinidad and Tobago	Template:Dts
69	Greece	Template:Dts
70	Cambodia	Template:Dts
71	Burkina Faso	Template:Dts
72	Nepal	Template:DTS
73	Nigeria	Template:DTS
74	Myanmar
75	Afghanistan
76	Central African Republic
77	Venezuela	Template:Dts
78	Iraq	Template:Dts
79	Liberia	Template:Dts
—	Holy See	Template:Dts
80	Peru	Template:Dts
81	Sierra Leone	Template:Dts
82	Burundi	Template:Dts
83	Gambia	Template:Dts
84	Zambia	Template:Dts
85	Panama	Template:Dts
86	Laos	Template:Dts
87	Ecuador	Template:Dts
88	United Arab Emirates	Template:Dts
89	Qatar	Template:Dts
90	Bangladesh	Template:Dts
91	Gabon	Template:Dts
92	Somalia	Template:Dts
93	Guinea-Bissau	Template:Dts
94	Australia	Template:Dts
95	Oman	Template:Dts
96	Malta	Template:Dts
97	Jamaica
98	Ireland	Template:Dts
99	Portugal	Template:Dts
100	Philippines	Template:Dts
101	Chad	Template:Dts
102	Rwanda	Template:Dts
103	Thailand	Template:Dts
104	Mauritius	Template:DTS
—	Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic	Template:Dts
105	Guyana	Template:DTS
106	Seychelles	Template:Dts
107	Angola
108	Cape Verde	Template:Dts
109	Djibouti	Template:Dts
110	Cyprus	Template:Dts
111	Equatorial Guinea	Template:Dts
112	Colombia	Template:DTS
113	São Tomé and Príncipe	Template:Dts
114	Comoros
115	Barbados	Template:Dts
116	Mozambique	Template:Dts
117	Grenada	Template:Dts
118	Botswana	Template:Dts
119	Bolivia	Template:Dts
120	Zimbabwe	Template:Dts
121	Malawi	Template:Dts
122	Nicaragua	Template:Dts
123	Suriname	Template:Dts
124	Ethiopia	Template:Dts
125	Singapore	Template:Dts
126	Iceland	Template:Dts
127	Bahrain	Template:Dts
128	Lesotho	Template:Dts
129	New Zealand	Template:Dts
130	Vanuatu	Template:Dts
131	Togo
132	Maldives	Template:Dts
—	Template:Country data State of Palestine	Template:Dts
133	Antigua and Barbuda	Template:Dts
134	South Korea	Template:Dts
135	Guatemala	Template:Dts
136	Costa Rica	Template:Dts
137	Namibia
138	Uzbekistan
139	Ukraine	Template:Dts
140	Slovenia	Template:Dts
141	Croatia	Template:Dts
142	Armenia	Template:Dts
143	Slovakia	Template:Dts
144	Bosnia and Herzegovina
145	Template:Country data Georgia	Template:Dts
146	Eritrea	Template:Dts
147	Moldova	Template:Dts
148	Lithuania	Template:Dts
149	Azerbaijan	Template:Dts
150	South Africa	Template:Dts
151	Turkmenistan	Template:Dts
152	Honduras	Template:Dts
153	Eswatini	Template:Dts
154	Brunei	Template:DTS
155	Paraguay	Template:Dts
156	Belarus	Template:Dts
157	Kazakhstan
158	Kyrgyzstan
159	Estonia	Template:Dts
160	Tajikistan	Template:Dts
161	Latvia	Template:Dts
162	Belize	Template:Dts
163	Template:Country data North Macedonia
164	Timor-Leste
165	San Marino	Template:Dts
166	Andorra	Template:Dts
167	Liechtenstein
168	Dominica	Template:Dts
169	El Salvador	Template:Dts
170	Monaco	Template:Dts
171	Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	Template:Dts
172	Montenegro	Template:Dts
173	Dominican Republic	Template:Dts
174	Saint Kitts and Nevis
175	Fiji	Template:Dts
176	Tuvalu	Template:Dts
177	Solomon Islands	Template:Dts
178	South Sudan	Template:Dts
179	Marshall Islands	Template:Dts
180	Kiribati	Template:Dts
181	Saint Lucia	Template:Dts
182	Bahamas	Template:Dts

Africa

Algeria has friendly relations with other countries in the Maghreb, Tunisia and Libya, and with Sub-Saharan countries Mali and Niger. Algeria has taken the lead in working on issues related to the African continent. Host of the Organisation of African Unity Conference in 2000, Algeria also was key in bringing Ethiopia and Eritrea to the peace table in 2000. It has worked closely with other African countries to establish the New Partnership for Africa's Development. Algeria has taken a lead in reviving the Arab Maghreb Union with other regional Arab countries.

Country	Formal Relations Began	Notes
Egypt		See Algeria–Egypt relations Algeria has an embassy in Cairo. Egypt has an embassy in Algiers.
Ethiopia	1968	Algeria has an embassy in Addis Ababa. Ethiopia closed its embassy in Algiers in 2021.
Ghana	1962	Algeria has an embassy in Accra. Ghana has an embassy in Algiers.
Kenya	23 June 1964	See Algeria–Kenya relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 23 June 1964 when the Algerian ambassador to Kenya, Mr. Nouredien Djoudi, presented his credentials to the Governor-General. Algeria has an embassy in Nairobi. Kenya has an embassy in Algiers.
Libya	24 August 1963	See Algeria–Libya relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 24 August 1963. Algeria–Libya relations have generally been amicable. Libyan support for the Polisario in the Western Sahara facilitated early post independence Algerian relations with Libya. Libyan inclinations for full-scale political union, however, have obstructed formal political collaboration because Algeria has consistently backed away from such cooperation with its unpredictable neighbour. (A vote by the CCN (Algeria) on June 30, 1987, actually supported union between Libya and Algeria, but the proposal was later retracted by the FLN Central Committee after the heads of state failed to agree.) The Treaty of Oujda between Libya and Morocco, which represented a response to Algeria's Treaty of Fraternity and Concord with Tunisia, temporarily aggravated Algerian-Libyan relations by establishing a political divide in the region--Libya and Morocco on one side; Algeria, Tunisia, and Mauritania on the other. Finally, in 1988 Libya was invited to participate in the Inter-Maghrib commission that was responsible for developing the North African Union. The establishment of the UMA in February 1989 marked the first formal political or economic collaboration between the two neighbours. Algeria has an embassy in Tripoli and a consulate in Sabha. Libya has an embassy in Algiers.
Madagascar	15 June 1964	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 15 June 1964 Algeria has an embassy in Antananarivo. Madagascar has an embassy in Algiers.
Mali	22 July 1963	See Algeria–Mali relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 22 July 1963. Algeria has an embassy in Bamako and a consulate in Gao. Mali has an embassy in Algiers and a consulate in Tamanrasset.
Mauritania	1964	See Algeria–Mauritania relations Algeria has an embassy in Nouakchott. Mauritania has an embassy in Algiers.
Morocco	1 October 1962	See Algeria–Morocco relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 1 October 1962. Severed diplomatic relations 27 February 1976, restored 16 May 1988, cuts diplomatic relations 24 August 2021. Algeria–Morocco relations have been dominated by the issue of self-determination for the Western Sahara since their independence. The national integrity of this former colonial territory has caused a deep-seated antagonism and general mistrust between the two nations that has permeated all aspects of Moroccan-Algerian relations. Algeria's interest in the region dates back to the 1960s and 1970s when it joined Morocco, Mauritania & Libya in efforts to remove the Spanish from the territory. After Spain announced its intention to abandon the province, then known as Spanish Sahara, in 1975, the united front presented by the Maghreb nations quickly disintegrated, as a result of Morocco, and subsequently Mauritania, staking claims to the territory. Algeria, although not asserting any territorial ambitions of its own, was averse to the absorption of the territory by any of its neighbors and called for self-determination for the Saharawi people. Before the Spanish evacuation, Spain, Morocco, and Mauritania agreed to divide the territory and transfer the major part to Morocco and the remaining southern portion to Mauritania. This agreement violated a United Nations (UN) resolution that declared all historical claims on the part of Mauritania or Morocco to be insufficient to justify territorial absorption and drew heavy Algerian criticism. Algeria has an embassy in Rabat, a consulate-general in Casablanca and a consulate in Oujda. Morocco has an embassy in Algiers and consulates-general in Oran and Sidi Bel Abbès.
Niger	12 March 1965	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 12 March 1965 when the government of Niger has agreed to the nomination of M. Ali Abdellaoui as Algeria's Ambassador in Niamey with residence in Abidjan Algeria has an embassy in Niamey and a consulate in Agadez. Niger has an embassy in Algiers and a consulate in Tamanrasset. In August 2023, Algeria proposed a six-month civilian-led transition to resolve Niger's political crisis, diverging from potential military intervention discussed by ECOWAS, emphasizing diplomacy and seeking UN involvement while hosting a conference on Sahel region development. Algeria also denied France's alleged request for military operations in Niger.
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic	6 March 1976	See Algeria–Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic relations Since 1976, Algeria has supported the Polisario Front, a group claiming to represent the population of Western Sahara, which is based among the 90,000 Sahrawi refugees who reside in refugee camps in Algeria. Contending that the Sahrawis have a right to self-determination under the UN Charter, Algeria has provided the Polisario with material, financial, and political support and sanctuary in southwestern Algeria's Tindouf Province. UN involvement in the Western Sahara includes MINURSO, a peacekeeping force, and UNHCR, for refugee assistance and resettlement. Active diplomatic efforts to resolve the dispute under the auspices of the Special Representative of the Secretary General are on-going. Although the land border between Morocco and Algeria was closed in the wake of a terrorist attack, the two have worked at improving relations. Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic has an embassy in Algiers.
South Africa	10 May 1994	See Algeria–South Africa relations Both countries established full diplomatic relations on 10 May 1994 Algeria has an embassy in Pretoria. South Africa has an embassy in Algiers.
Sudan	22 December 1965	See Algeria–Sudan relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 22 December 1965. Algeria has an embassy in Khartoum. Sudan has an embassy in Algiers.
Tunisia	13 November 1962	See Algeria–Tunisia relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 13 November 1962. Smaller and in a more precarious position vis-à-vis Libya, Tunisia has consistently made efforts to align with Algeria. In the 1970s, Tunisia reversed its position on the Western Sahara so as not to antagonize Algerian authorities. Tunisia was the first nation to sign the Treaty of Fraternity and Concord with Algeria, in 1983. Throughout Algeria's independent history, it has joined in a number of economic ventures with Tunisia, including the transnational pipeline running from Algeria through Tunisia to Italy. In 1987 the departure from power in Tunisia of President Habib Bourguiba and his replacement by the more diplomatic Zine el Abidine Ben Ali brought the two nations closer again. Algeria has an embassy in Tunis and consulates in El Kef and Gafsa. Tunisia has an embassy in Algiers, a consulate-general in Annaba and a consulate in Tébessa.

Americas

Country	Formal Relations Began	Notes
Argentina	18 June 1964	See Algeria–Argentina relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 18 June 1964 Algeria have an embassy in Buenos Aires. Argentina have an embassy in Algiers. Both are members of Group of 77 and of the Group of 24 Argentine Ministry of Foreign Relations: list of bilateral treaties with Algeria (in Spanish only) On November 18, 2008, the President of Argentina Cristina Fernández de Kirchner made an official visit to Algiers and met her counterpart, the President of Algeria, Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
Brazil	December 1962	See Algeria–Brazil relations Algeria has an embassy in Brasília. Brazil has an embassy in Algiers.
Canada	29 May 1964	See Algeria–Canada relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 29 May 1964. Algeria has an embassy in Ottawa and a consulate-general in Montreal. Canada has an embassy in Algiers.
Cuba	17 October 1962	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 17 October 1962 Cuba and Algeria formed strong diplomatic links due to their historical and ideological proximity. Indeed, despite their geographical distance, the two countries saw themselves as the models of a successful socialist revolution against imperialist forces. Moreover, they more pragmatically believed that to defend themselves from American hostility, they ought to encourage revolutions elsewhere in Latin America and in Africa as to distract the United States and create new allies. Hence, guerrilla hero Ernesto "Che" Guevara visited Algeria twice, from October 1963 to February 1964, and in February 1965, and Cuban President Fidel Castro made a grand official visit to Algeria in 1972. Cuba also sent large quantities of military equipment (two ships, a unity of tanks and 700 soldiers) to Algeria in 1963 during the Sand War with Morocco. Indeed, once again, Algeria was a point of contact between African rebels and potential supporting countries such as Cuba. This relationship was mutually beneficial: Algeria received Argentinian training guerrilleros, a delegation of the Venezuelan National Liberation Front, and even sent armaments to the latter (in an Algerian ship, as to avoid American control) at Cuba's request. Algeria has an embassy in Havana. Cuba has an embassy in Algiers.
Mexico	21 October 1964	See Algeria–Mexico relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 21 October 1964 Algeria has an embassy in Mexico City. Mexico has an embassy in Algiers.
Peru	10 March 1972	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 10 March 1972. Algeria has an embassy in Lima. Peru has an embassy in Algiers.
United States	29 September 1962	See Algeria–United States relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 29 September 1962 Military cooperation between the United States and Algeria were less sensible than that with the Soviet Union, and Algerian purchases in the early years of independence were mostly restrained to American planes. However, the intermediary role played by Algeria during the Iranian hostage crisis generated the purchase of general military equipment in 1985 through the Foreign Military Sales program. Even though the United States were initially positively inclined to develop strong diplomatic links with the newly independent Algerian state, their relations declined rapidly. Indeed, the Algerian official declarations against American interventionism in Africa and as far as North Vietnam, and their support to left-wing revolutionary groups against American-supported regimes (notably in Angola, but also in Latin America through their close connections with Cuba) increased the hostility against Algeria in American opinion. The United States feared that Algeria was more favorable to the communist bloc and risked threatening their interests. Moreover, the Algerians resented the American failure to deliver the kind of assistance they requested: although the PL-480 food program provided food to millions of Algerians, the government sought to develop its economy through wider and long-term industrial programs. As Foreign Affairs Minister Bouteflika stated in 1965, "The US gives us bread; what we need is work. We need factories that create things and give work to our people". However, despite the break of diplomatic relations with the United States in 1967 following the Six-Day War, their economic exchanges did not stop. Indeed, the United States had nearly replaced France as Algeria's first trade partner by the beginning of the 1970s. In July 2001, President Abdelaziz Bouteflika became the first Algerian President to visit the White House since 1985. This visit, followed by a second meeting in November 2001, a meeting in New York in September 2003, and President Bouteflika's participation at the June 2004 G8 Sea Island Summit, is indicative of the growing relationship between the United States and Algeria. Since the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States, contacts in key areas of mutual concern, including law enforcement and counter-terrorism cooperation, have intensified. Algeria publicly condemned the terrorist attacks on the United States and has been strongly supportive of the international war against terrorism. The United States and Algeria consult closely on key international and regional issues. The pace and scope of senior-level visits has accelerated. In April 2006, then-Foreign Minister Bedjaoui met with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Algeria has an embassy in Washington, D.C., and a consulate-general in New York City. United States has an embassy in Algiers.

Asia

Country	Formal Relations Began	Notes
Bangladesh	30 July 1973	See Algeria–Bangladesh relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 30 July 1973 Algeria has an embassy in Dhaka. Bangladesh has an embassy in Algiers.
China	20 December 1958	See Algeria–China relations Algeria has an embassy in Beijing. China has an embassy in Algiers.
India	2 July 1962	See Algeria–India relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 2 July 1962 Algeria has an embassy in New Delhi. India has an embassy in Algiers.
Indonesia	1963	See Algeria–Indonesia relations Algeria has an embassy in Jakarta. Indonesia has an embassy in Algiers.
Iran	1964, severed diplomatic relations 27 March 1993, restored 8 September 2001	See Algeria–Iran relations Algeria has an embassy in Tehran. Iran has an embassy in Algiers.
Iraq	1962, severed diplomatic relations 1979, restored September 2001	Algeria has an embassy in Baghdad. Iraq has an embassy in Algiers.
Israel		See Algeria–Israel relations Algeria has never had official diplomatic relations with Israel. In the mid 90s, while Israel and north African states slowly started diplomatic relations, Algeria remained one of the last countries to consider such a move. It was only when Israeli's President Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Ehud Barak met Algerian President Abdalziz Bouteflika at the funeral of Moroccan King Hassan ll on July 25, 1999, that comments about rapprochement were made.
Japan	28 November 1962	See Algeria–Japan relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 28 November 1962. The Front de Liberation Nationale (FLN) opened a representative office in Tokyo in 1958. A Japanese embassy was opened in Algiers in 1964, and an Algerian embassy was opened in Tokyo the same year. Japan has extended extensive technological assistance to Algeria and cultural exchange programs are numerous Algeria has an embassy in Tokyo. Japan has an embassy in Algiers.
Malaysia	26 November 1964	See Algeria–Malaysia relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 26 November 1964 Algeria has an embassy in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia has an embassy in Algiers.
Maldives	8 March 1988	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 8 March 1988 Algeria is represented in Maldives via its embassy in New Delhi Maldives is represented in Algeria through a non-resident ambassador based, presumably, in London. Template:Efn
Pakistan	16 August 1963	See Algeria-Pakistan relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 16 August 1963. Algeria enjoys friendly relations with Pakistan, which offered support during Algeria's struggle for independence. Pakistan was the first country to recognize the "Provisional Government of the Republic of Algeria" in exile on 19 September 1958 and facilitating the opening of an official mission in Karachi (Pakistan), even before Algeria's independence was formally declared. Algeria has an embassy in Islamabad. Pakistan has an embassy in Algiers.
Template:Country data Palestine	16 December 1988	See Algeria-Palestine relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 16 December 1988 Algeria has been a strong proponent of the rights of the Palestinian people, calling publicly for an end to violence in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Qatar	18 July 1973	See Algeria–Qatar relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 18 July 1973 Algeria has an embassy in Doha. Qatar has an embassy in Algiers.
Saudi Arabia	1962	See Algeria–Saudi Arabia relations Algeria has an embassy in Riyadh and a consulate-general in Jeddah. Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Algiers.
Singapore	12 May 1983	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 12 May 1983 Algeria is represented in Singapore via its embassy in Jakarta. Singapore is represented in Algeria through a non-resident ambassador based in Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Singapore).
Syria	27 August 1962	See Algeria–Syria relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 27 August 1962 Algeria has an embassy in Damascus. Syria has an embassy in Algiers. Both countries are members of Arab League.
Turkey	1962	See also Algeria–Turkey relations Algeria has an embassy in Ankara and a Consulate General in Istanbul. Turkey has an embassy in Algiers. Trade volume between the two countries was US$3.17 billion in 2018 (Algerian exports/imports: 1.14/2.03 billion USD). 213,333 Algerian tourists visited Turkey in 2017. Yunus Emre Institute has a local headquarters in Algiers. 600,000 to 2,000,000 of Algerians are of Turkish descent.
United Arab Emirates	6 July 1973	See Algeria–United Arab Emirates relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 6 July 1973 when UAE officially opened an embassy in Algiers Algeria has an embassy in Abu Dhabi and a consulate in Dubai. UAE has an embassy in Algiers.
Vietnam	28 October 1962	See Algeria–Vietnam relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 28 October 1962. Algeria has an embassy in Hanoi. Vietnam has an embassy in Algiers.

Europe

Country	Formal Relations Began	Notes
Cyprus	3 April 1979	See Algeria–Cyprus relations Cyprus and Algeria have concluded various agreements. For example, in November 1997, Algeria and Cyprus agreed on a framework for maritime exchanges between the two countries, lifting obstacles on the free movement of ships and offering preferential treatment at the ports in both countries. In December 1999 Algeria and Cyprus signed an air transport agreement to introduce a legal framework governing air routes between Algeria and Cyprus. In July 2000, Algerian news agency APS signed a cooperation agreement with the Cypriot news agency that covers exchange of English news items and photographs. In December 2001, the Algerian firm Sonatrach and Cyprus oil company Medex Petroleum signed an exploration deal covering the north of Bordj Omar Idriss in the Illizi basin in south-eastern Algeria. Cyprus is considering Algeria as a potential partner to assist with extracting untapped oil and gas from the island's exclusive economic zone. Other partners being considered are Libya, Russian and Algeria – full details of the negotiations have not yet been released to the public domain.
France	3 July 1962	See Algeria–France relations In the early 1990s, nearly 20 percent of all Algerian exports and imports were destined for or originated from France. More than 1 million Algerians resided in France and there were numerous francophones in Algeria, creating a tremendous cultural overlap. French remained the language of instruction in most schools and the language used in more than two-thirds of all newspapers and periodicals and on numerous television programs. Algeria and France share a cultural background that transcends diplomatic maneuvers and has persisted throughout periods of "disenchantment" and strained relations. Over time, however, the arabization of Algeria and the increasing polarization of society between the francophone elite and the Arab masses have mobilized anti-French sentiment. Support for the arabization of Algerian society—including the elimination of French as the second national language and emphasis on an arabized education curriculum—and the recent success of the FIS indicate a growing fervor in Algeria for asserting an independent national identity. Such an identity emphasizes its Arab and Islamic cultural tradition rather than its French colonial past. However, France's support for the military regime that assumed power in early 1992 indicates that the cooperative relations between the two countries remain strong. Algeria has an embassy in Paris and several consulates-general throughout the country. France has an embassy in Algiers and consulates-general in Annaba and Oran.
Germany	1 October 1962	See Algeria–Germany relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 1 October 1962. Algeria has an embassy in Berlin and a consulate-general in Frankfurt. Germany has an embassy in Algiers.
Greece	1962	See Algeria–Greece relations Relations between the two countries have been traditionally friendly since Algeria's first years of independence. Both countries are members of the Union for the Mediterranean. Greece was among the early countries to establish diplomatic relations with Algeria after its independence in 1962, by upgrading the then Greek Consulate General in Algiers to an embassy in 1963. As of 2009, the two countries had in place three bilateral agreements: Agreement on Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation (1982). Agreement on Educational Cooperation (1988). Agreement on Mutual Protection and Promotion of Investments (2000). The Algerian Minister of Foreign Affairs visited Greece in February 2001, returning a previous visit paid by the Foreign Minister of Greece to Algeria. In 2003, Greek [National] Defence Minister Ioannos Papandoniou visited Algeria to discuss ways to consolidate military cooperation between Algeria and Greece. Since 2000, Algeria has supplied Greece with natural gas by virtue of a long-term Agreement between the two countries. The liquefied natural gas is transported by special vessels before eventually reaching the appropriate plant located in Megara, Attica. The exports of Algerian products to Greece amounted to $89 million in 2001, including mainly oil and oil derivatives, natural gas, inorganic chemicals, iron and steel. In the same year, Greek exports to Algeria amounted to $50.78 million, consisting mainly of cereals and related derivatives, tobacco products, pharmaceuticals, medical and non-ferrous minerals. In 2007, Algeria was ranked 6th among Greece's Arab trade partners. Algeria has an embassy in Athens. Greece has an embassy in Algiers.
Holy See	6 March 1972	See Algeria–Holy See relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 6 March 1972. Algeria is accredited to the Holy See from its Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. Holy See has an apostolic nunciature in Algiers.
Italy	1 October 1962	See Algeria–Italy relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 1 October 1962. Two countries have a strong connection, as northern part of Algeria's today was formerly territory of the Roman Empire which was originally from modern-day Italy. Italy and Algeria's relations is viewed as important for stability in the region. Algeria has an embassy in Rome and a consulate-general in Milan. Italy has an embassy in Algiers. Both nations are members of the Union for the Mediterranean. Italy is also Algeria's top commercial partner, with an exchange worth 8.67 billion dollars and a volume of imports of 4.41 billion, or 17.24% of global Algerian exports.
Poland	2 May 1962	See Algeria–Poland relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 2 May 1962. Algeria has an embassy in Warsaw. Poland has an embassy in Algiers.
Portugal	7 March 1975	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 7 March 1975. Algeria has an embassy in Lisbon. Portugal has an embassy in Algiers.
Romania	16 April 1962	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 16 April 1962. Algeria has an embassy in Bucharest. Romania has an embassy in Algiers. Both are members of the Union for the Mediterranean Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: information about relations with Romania (in French only)
Russia	23 March 1962	See Algeria–Russia relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 23 March 1962. Algeria and Russia have had a strong military cooperation since the Algerian independence, as Algiers turned towards the USSR for purchasing armaments. Indeed, from 1962 to 1989, Algeria spent approximately 11 billion dollars for Soviet weapons: planes (MiG-21, MiG-23 et Su-24), tanks (T-55 et T-72), armored vehicles, several ships (including submarines), light weapons and ammunition. Algeria has an Embassy in Moscow. Russia has an Embassy in Algiers and a consulate in Annaba.
Serbia	5 July 1962	See Algeria–Serbia relations Algeria and Serbia (formerly Yugoslavia) formed a strong diplomatic relation shortly after the Algerian independence, marked by economic, military but also ideological cooperation. Indeed, the Yugoslavian economic system constituted a model for the Algerian-style autogestion experimented in the early Ben Bella years. Henceforth, the Yugoslavian government sent technical advisers and agricultural material to Algeria. Moreover, Yugoslavia and Algeria shared similar views on international matters, such as the necessity for the extension of the Non-Aligned Movement. Indeed, Tito saw in Algeria a way to legitimate the possibility of diversity in socialism, rather than the imposed and monolithic Soviet-model. Their alliance was also geopolitically strategic: Algeria constituted a gate into the African and Arab worlds for Yugoslavia, who intended to create stronger links with this continent. Therefore, while Yugoslavia benefited from Algerian close relations with African countries, Algeria could use Yugoslavian greater military and logistical resources to pursue its program of exporting revolution in the continent. Algeria has an embassy in Belgrade. Serbia has an embassy in Algiers. Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about bilateral relations with Algeria Template:Webarchive
Spain	18 December 1962	See Algeria–Spain relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 18 December 1962. Algeria has an embassy in Madrid and consulates-general in Alicante and Barcelona. Spain has an embassy in Algiers and a consulate-general in Oran.
Ukraine	20 August 1992	See Algeria–Ukraine relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 20 August 1992. Algeria has an embassy in Kyiv. Ukraine has an embassy in Algiers.
		See Algeria–United Kingdom relations File:David Cameron is met by PM Sellal of Algeria (8431378795).jpg British Prime Minister David Cameron with Algerian Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal in Algeria, January 2013. Algeria established diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom on 16 November 1962. Algeria maintains an embassy in London. The United Kingdom is accredited to Algeria through its embassy in Algiers. Both countries share common membership of the United Nations. Bilaterally the two countries have a Double Tax Convention, and a Strategic Partnership.

See also

• Algeria and the United Nations
• List of diplomatic missions in Algeria
• List of diplomatic missions of Algeria
• Visa requirements for Algerian citizens