Algeria Seeks to Strengthen Its Relations with Washington Through a Mineral Deal to Dissuade U.S. Support for Moroccan Sahara
As part of diplomatic moves aimed at gaining U.S. support on the Moroccan Sahara issue, Algerian Minister of Energy and Mines, Mohamed Arkab, hosted the U.S. Ambassador to Algeria, Elizabeth Moore Aubin, in a meeting described by observers as strategic. During the meeting, the Algerian minister expressed his country’s willingness to provide its mineral and mining resources to the United States, in a step intended to strengthen the economic ties between the two countries.
These actions come at a sensitive time, as Washington shows increasing signs of supporting Morocco in the Western Sahara conflict, which has upset Algeria, which considers this dispute a strategic issue both domestically and internationally. Algeria, which supports the Polisario Front in its quest to establish an independent state in Western Sahara, believes that U.S. support for Morocco could harm its regional interests.
Earlier this year, Algeria’s Ambassador to Washington, Sabri Boukadoum, announced Algeria’s willingness to discuss a deal with the United States regarding its rare mineral resources, confirming that Algeria is ready to collaborate with Washington in this field, similar to the cooperation between the United States and Ukraine.
These Algerian moves reflect a desire to influence U.S. policy through strategic economic leverage, amid international competition for vital resources, particularly rare minerals that are essential for modern technology and renewable energy production.
The question remains open as to whether this strategy will succeed in shifting the U.S. stance on the Moroccan Sahara issue, or if economic interests will remain the determining factor in the relations between the two countries.
