World News: Macron Walks Softly as Algerian Diplomatic Relations Warm

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Category: World News - Europe

Published on Tuesday, 03 June 2025 10:21

Written by Olivier Longhi

While Franco-Algerian diplomatic relations are currently marked by heavy tensions, Algiers' reception of Rodolphe Saadé, head of CMA-CGM, opens the way to a potential and informal rapprochement between the two states, whose tensions date back to 1962.

Should we see in the meeting between President Tebboune and Rodolphe Saadé, head of CMA-CGM, a form of warming of Franco-Algerian diplomatic relations? While it is too early to say, it appears that Algiers has taken the measure, for the development of its economy and its maritime branch in particular, of an alliance with the container and freight shipping group, an alliance that would only be beneficial to the Maghreb giant.

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At the same time, it is obvious that Paris and the Quai d'Orsay, the seat of French diplomacy, are closely scrutinizing this meeting and the decisions that could result from it, the latter of which could give a relatively precise idea of the content of future diplomatic relations between the two countries.

However, business and politics are not necessarily called upon to be carried out at the same time, or even together, because the differences that have poisoned relations between Paris and Algiers to this day are above all of a political nature more than commercial or economic.

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Business Relations

Proof of this is that Algiers has not called into question the agreements on the sale of oil and gas to France, agreements dating back to the Evian Accords signed in March 1962. The fact remains that Rodolphe Saadé's trip to Algiers has a political dimension that will have escaped no one.

In fact, France and Algeria are naturally aware of the weight of the trade relations that unite the two countries, as well as of the fact that the quarrel cannot last forever, as it is too fraught with consequences from all points of view.

Therefore, to suggest that Rodolphe Saadé is becoming an ambassador by proxy is in no way excessive, as the role assumed for the occasion has no direct or indirect effects on the central objective of his trip: to establish or sign cooperation contracts for his company. The number of jobs created, the logistical development generated and the densification of commercial networks between the Algerian state and French companies are likely to lead to a softening of current relations.

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Background

Emmanuel Macron's recognition of Moroccan authority over Western Sahara to the detriment of the Algiers-backed Polisario Front, a recognition at the origin of the diplomatic escalation between Algiers and Paris, could therefore gradually take a back seat if initiatives such as those led by Rodophe Saadé's were to multiply via other channels, understand, that other French companies set up or develop their presence on Algerian soil.

Objectively, Algiers would have everything to gain because the country, mired in a social and economic crisis with a distant outcome, subject to the jolts of the oil prices from which it derives almost all of its revenues, (nearly 75% to 95%) would find there a way among others to diversify its economy by exploiting the Mediterranean area when Morocco and Tunisia are struggling to express themselves there.

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Bio: Olivier Longhi has extensive experience in European history. A seasoned journalist with fifteen years of experience, he is currently a professor of history and geography in the Toulouse region of France. He has held a variety of publishing positions, including Head of Agency and Chief of Publishing. A journalist and recognized blogger, editor, and editorial project manager, he has trained and managed editorial teams, worked as a journalist for various local radio stations, was a press and publishing consultant, and was a communications consultant.