Algiers has just put its threats into execution by closing its market to Spanish products. In addition, the Algerian government has announced that it will strengthen its ties with Italy to transport gas to Europe at the expense of Madrid. He also resumed contact with Paris.
Three weeks after Madrid’s decision to support the Moroccan autonomy plan for Western Sahara, Algeria closed its market to Spanish productions. After recalling its ambassador to Madrid, Algiers gradually banned the import of Spanish agricultural products, starting with cattle, which affected the interests of Spanish cattle breeders. Algiers had threatened to review all its trade agreements with Spain after Madrid’s sudden diplomatic reversal on the Western Sahara issue.
The Algerian government has announced that it will increase the price of gas supplied to Spain and that it will instead strengthen its ties with Italy to bring gas to Europe. Algiers signed an agreement on April 11, 2022 to increase its gas deliveries to an Italy that is seeking to reduce its dependence on Russia.
According to a press release from the Italian energy group ENI, the agreement provides for a gradual growth of up to nine billion cubic meters of additional gas per year, via the Transmed gas pipeline which links the two countries by transiting through Tunisia. But, according to experts, Algiers has only a very limited capacity to increase its exports by gas pipeline. According to the former Algerian Minister of Energy, Abdelmajid Attar, the gas could also be liquefied and sent by LNG carriers, knowing that “the liquefaction units that exist in Algeria are only operated at 50-60% of their capacity”.
The head of French diplomacy Jean-Yves Le Drian discussed energy issues during a whirlwind visit on April 14, 2022 to Algiers. According to the Algerian press, the French Foreign Minister discussed the possibility of transporting Algerian gas to Paris. He also addressed food issues because Algiers is worried about its future wheat imports, in connection with the war in Ukraine.
Jean-Yves Le Drian and Algerian officials also discussed stability in the Mediterranean and in Africa, terrorism and security challenges in the Sahel and Libya. According to observers, France and Algeria are trying to give new impetus to their relationship after a serious diplomatic crisis. “We have continued the work started on the ongoing relaunch of our bilateral relations, which are essential for each of our two countries and which we wish to establish over the long term, with the prospect of an upcoming meeting of the CIHN”the Franco-Algerian High Level Intergovernmental Committee, the French minister said on April 13, 2022.