Algeria and the United Arab Emirates currently find themselves immersed in a diplomatic crisis which has continued to grow since last summer. Tensions between the two countries have become increasingly hostile, jeopardizing their bilateral relations.
On the Algerian side, the official media have multiplied the declarations concerning this tense situation. The United Arab Emirates has taken sanctions against Algerian dignitaries it considers hostile, and stopped granting them visas. Algiers accuses Abu Dhabi of going against its interests in North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. For their part, the Emirates accuse Algeria of working in concert with Morocco and Israel to destabilize their national security.
Tension has been rising between the two countries in recent months. Local Algerian media, close to power, regularly relay Algiers’ discontent with the United Arab Emirates, which they accuse of harming Algeria’s interests. The Emirates are notably credited with having voted against Algeria’s candidacy for the United Nations Security Council. They also allegedly influenced India to vote against Algeria’s integration into the BRICS group.
This climate of distrust has increased further recently. Algerian national radio said the United Arab Emirates was funding Morocco to the tune of $15 million in a bid to disrupt relations between Algeria and its Sahel neighbors. Furthermore, the secretary general of the Workers’ Party, Louisa Hanoune, affirmed that President Tebboune was “aware of these maneuvers” during a meeting with him last month.
It is obvious that the two countries have diametrically opposed positions when it comes to geopolitics. Algeria is closer to Turkey, Qatar and Iran, while the United Arab Emirates is allied with Israel and Morocco. On the Libyan issue, the two countries are also at odds: Abu Dhabi supports Marshal Haftar, a strong man from eastern Libya, while Algeria supports Tripoli.
This diplomatic crisis between Algeria and the United Arab Emirates raises many questions about the future of their bilateral relations. The situation is worrying because it could have consequences for regional stability. The coming months will be crucial for observing the evolution of this silent, but dangerous, crisis between two major players on the geopolitical scene.