Algeria and France Are Feuding—Here’s Why Washington Should Care

In a move that might normally pass with limited international notice, Algeria expelled 15 French diplomats last week, citing procedural violations. France responded in kind. While this tit-for-tat exchange may seem like yet another chapter in the long, complicated history between a former colony and its ex-colonial ruler, the implications are far more serious—particularly for American interests in North Africa.

This rupture is more than symbolic. It exposes deep-seated distrust and intensifying regional rivalries at a time when North Africa is emerging as a key theater in the global competition for influence. For the United States, whose strategic goals in the region include counterterrorism, energy security, and limiting the reach of China and Russia, allowing these tensions to spiral unchecked would be a costly mistake.

At the heart of the dispute is a familiar flashpoint: Western Sahara. France’s recent signaling of support for Morocco’s autonomy plan—a position the US also supports—has aggravated Algeria, which continues to back Sahrawi separatists. But this is not just a disagreement over borders; it is a proxy for broader regional competition. Algeria and Morocco severed diplomatic ties in 2021, and the cold war between them has since disrupted trade, migration management, and regional security cooperation.

France’s increasingly strained ties with Algeria could have ripple effects. Algiers has been a key player in counterterrorism efforts in the Sahel, providing intelligence and border control capacities. Paris, until recently, contributed military force through Operation Barkhane. But with that mission wound down and Algeria’s cooperation growing less reliable, extremist groups from Mali to Niger could find new opportunities to regroup. For the US, which maintains operations through AFRICOM and supports regional stability initiatives, the erosion of cooperation between two major players is a red flag.

Complicating matters further is Algeria’s geopolitical alignment. Algiers has steadily deepened ties with Russia and China—its principal arms supplier and infrastructure partner, respectively. This shift threatens to undermine Western influence in a region that was once more neutral. If Algeria continues this trajectory, Washington risks watching a major North African actor move decisively into the orbit of rival powers.

Energy is another pressure point. In the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Europe looked to Algeria as an alternative gas supplier. While that realignment has been encouraged by the US, its success hinges on stable diplomatic relations between Algeria and its European partners. Continued deterioration in Algeria-France relations could threaten energy contracts, pipeline projects, and the broader effort to reduce Europe’s dependence on hostile actors. Any disruption would also affect American goals tied to transatlantic energy security.

Beyond strategy, the human dimension should not be overlooked. France is home to over four million people of Algerian descent, and the diplomatic strain exacerbates identity and integration challenges. In Algeria, nationalist rhetoric often masks deeper issues—economic stagnation, youth unemployment, and political paralysis. These internal pressures could fuel unrest, migration surges, or regional instability—all of which carry implications for US and European security.

Historically, Washington has deferred to France in managing its post-colonial ties with Algeria. But that hands-off approach is no longer sufficient. A more engaged US role—measured, discreet, but present—could help prevent further escalation. This doesn’t require public mediation but does call for behind-the-scenes diplomacy, potentially through NATO or multilateral frameworks.

At the same time, the US should continue reinforcing its ties with reliable partners in the region—those committed to economic modernization, security cooperation, and regional integration. That includes encouraging constructive dialogue around disputed issues while making clear that alignment with adversarial powers carries long-term costs.

This crisis may pass, but the deeper trends it reveals—fragmentation, foreign interference, and weakened alliances—demand attention. North Africa is too strategically important to be left to drift. The US can’t control the outcome, but with smart diplomacy and principled engagement, it can shape it.