Macron’s visit to Algeria seen as a ‘veiled’ gas trip
EURACTIVAug 24, 2022
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France-Algeria: Macron Seeks To Reset Ties
Last updated Sep 02, 2022
Image credit: Reuters [via Al Jazeera]Facts
- French Pres. Emmanuel Macron began a three-day visit to Algeria on Thurs. in a bid to improve strained economic and diplomatic relations with the former French colony amid Europe's looming energy crisis.[1]
- Accompanied by a 90-member delegation that is said to include seven ministers and corporate leaders such as Catherine MacGregor, CEO of French energy company Engie, Macron reportedly plans to focus on "rebuilding" bilateral relations.[2]
- The French president's second trip to Algeria since 2017 comes after he questioned Algeria's pre-colonial existence last year and accused Algiers's alleged "politico-military system" of fomenting "hatred towards France."[3]
- The visit coincides with Europe's recent efforts to diversify its energy supply and detach itself from Russian oil and gas. Algeria is Europe's third-largest gas supplier after Russia and Norway and so far accounts for about 10% of gas imports, with much of its gas and oil reserves reportedly still untapped.[4]
- While Paris is reportedly Algeria's top crude oil buyer with $1.15B in 2020, France is also Algeria's second most important trading partner, accounting for 10.6% of all Algerian imports, after China with 16.8%.[5]
- Macron's trip to Algeria coincides with the 60th anniversary of the country's independence from France in 1962. According to French figures, 500K civilians and combatants died in Algeria's eight-year war for independence, including 400K Algerians, while Algiers estimates a total of 1.5M dead.[6]
Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Algeria and France should make every effort to overcome the shadows of the past. After all, Algeria benefits from the recent price increase of fossil fuel and gas exports to France. In turn, any additional gas for France also benefits Europe. If Algiers expands its production capacities, nothing stands in the way of a mutually beneficial energy partnership.
Establishment-critical narrative
Macron's trip to Algeria is spurred by France's fear of increasingly losing economic and political ground in Africa. The Elysée's new strategy is purportedly to open a new post-colonial and post-imperial chapter, yet it continues to hold on to old structures and mindsets. France and its Western partners will nevertheless inevitably fail with their cynical and desperate policies.
Narrative C
Algeria is in an interesting strategic and geopolitical position, and it is increasingly acting like an economically and politically sovereign country. Algiers has even recently shown interest in becoming a BRICS member, proving that the country has long since realized that the future lies in fostering and profiting from a multipolar world order.
