France and Algeria Agree to Resume Security Cooperation, Says Minister
France and Algeria have agreed to restart security cooperation, marking the first tangible sign of a thaw in relations between the former colony and its onetime ruler. The announcement came Tuesday following a visit to Algiers by French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, who met with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and senior security officials.
After his meeting with Tebboune, Nunez confirmed that both sides had agreed to “reactivate a high-level security cooperation mechanism.” The renewed partnership is expected to take effect “as quickly as possible” and continue “at a very high level.”
A Relationship Strained
The visit took place against a backdrop of deeply frayed relations. Tensions escalated in 2024 when Paris officially endorsed Moroccan sovereignty over the disputed Western Sahara region—a position that angered Algiers, which supports the pro-independence Polisario Front. The issue touches on core national interests for both countries and has proven resistant to easy resolution.
Nunez’s trip, planned for months but repeatedly delayed, finally materialized as both sides apparently concluded that security cooperation was too important to remain hostage to political disagreements.
What Cooperation Will Look Like
Nunez described Monday’s working sessions as focused on “restoring normal security relations,” encompassing judicial matters, policing, and intelligence sharing. The talks brought together senior security officials from both countries, including France’s domestic intelligence chief and Algeria’s head of internal security.
A significant breakthrough came on the sensitive issue of readmissions. Nunez thanked Tebboune for instructing Algerian services to work with French authorities to “improve cooperation on readmissions”—a reference to Algeria’s months-long refusal to take back nationals living irregularly in France. The issue has been a persistent irritant in bilateral relations, and Tebboune’s apparent willingness to address it signals a shift in posture.
Shared Security Challenges
Both countries face overlapping security threats that make cooperation essential. Algeria shares borders with Niger and Mali, both gripped by terrorist violence and led by juntas that have distanced themselves from traditional Western partners. French counterterrorism operations in the Sahel have drawn on Algerian intelligence and coordination.
Nunez indicated he intended to raise “all security issues” during his visit, including drug trafficking and counterterrorism—areas where practical cooperation benefits both nations regardless of political tensions.
An Unresolved Case
Ahead of the trip, Nunez had mentioned the case of Christophe Gleizes, a French sports journalist serving a seven-year sentence in Algeria for “glorifying terrorism.” It remains unclear whether the matter was discussed with Tebboune, from whom Gleizes’s family has requested a pardon. The case serves as a reminder that human and legal issues intersect with broader diplomatic relations.
What the Thaw Means
The resumption of security cooperation does not resolve the underlying political disputes between France and Algeria. Western Sahara remains a point of contention. Historical grievances linger. But it signals a pragmatic recognition that some forms of cooperation can proceed despite disagreement.
For France, Algerian cooperation is valuable in addressing terrorism, migration, and regional stability. For Algeria, engagement with France offers access, influence, and a channel for addressing its own concerns. The relationship, like many between former colonizers and colonized, is complex—layered with history, interest, and emotion.
The agreement to resume security cooperation is not a full normalization. But it is a start. And in a relationship that has known long periods of estrangement, any step forward matters.
Also Read:
US Steps In as Moscow and Kyiv Meet for Peace Discussions
Nigeria Political Tensions Rise After Detention of Government Critic
