Algeria and Spain hold talks to deepen ties after diplomatic rift

2026-03-26 - 20:20

Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf welcomed his Spanish counterpart José Manuel Albares in Algiers on Thursday for high-level talks aimed at strengthening bilateral relations, marking another step forward in the reconciliation between the two Mediterranean nations. The meeting comes more than three years after Algeria severed diplomatic ties with Madrid over Spain’s shift in policy regarding the disputed Western Sahara territory. Energy cooperation takes center stage According to a statement from Algeria’s Foreign Ministry, the two diplomats underscored the growing momentum in cooperation between Algiers and Madrid, particularly in the energy sector and other economic domains. Both ministers expressed their shared ambition to expand their partnership to deliver greater benefits for their respective countries. The discussions also covered regional and international developments, including the volatile situations in the Middle East, the Sahel region, and the broader Mediterranean basin. Western Sahara tensions ease as engagement resumes The two-day visit reflects a clear rapprochement following the 2022 diplomatic rupture, when Algeria recalled its ambassador from Madrid and suspended economic ties in protest of Spain’s endorsement of Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara. The dispute, which has fueled tensions between Algiers and Rabat for decades, had chilled Spanish-Algerian relations at a time when Spain relied heavily on Algerian natural gas. Thursday’s meeting follows a visit by Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska to Algiers in October 2025, signaling a steady rebuilding of trust between the capitals. Türkiye’s Mediterranean diplomacy in context As Algeria and Spain move to solidify their partnership, Ankara continues to advance its own diplomatic and economic engagements across the Mediterranean and North Africa. Türkiye has cultivated close ties with Algeria across defense, energy, and trade sectors while maintaining balanced relations with regional actors. The normalization between Algiers and Madrid is closely watched in Ankara, where officials emphasize the importance of stability and cooperative frameworks in the region’s evolving geopolitical landscape.