The implications of Algeria strengthening its Belt-and-Road, technological, and security ties with China
On July 18, 2023, Algeria’s President Abdelmadjid Tebboune met with Chinese President Xi Jinping as part of a high-level five-day trip to China to discuss closer economic and strategic ties between the two long-term trading partners. It was his first visit to Beijing since assuming power in 2019. This push comes in the wake of Tebboune’s visit to Moscow in June, which links to an overall effort by Algeria to diversify its economic dependence away from the European Union, particularly France.
1. Takeaways from the meeting
The Algerian president expressed that there was a strategic overlap in Algerian and Chinese interests when it came to shifting balances in the international order. During the visit, he praised what Algeria perceives as Beijing’s efforts to establish a “ more open and inclusive world” that counters an “unbalanced international order.” Chinese state media also quoted him stating that China is “Algeria’s most important friend and partner” due to its longstanding support. Tebboune declared that Algeria, in turn, “firmly supports” Chinese positions in its so-called “core interests” on Taiwan and “Xinjiang-related issues.”
Chinese outlets have portrayed the success of the relationship as in part due to China’s historic support for Algeria. Chinese outlets such as South China Morning Post emphasised this early alignment of values, referencing Zhou Enlai’s outreach to the Algerian FLN over shared principles of nationalism, sovereignty, and non-interference in domestic affairs at the 1955 Bandung Conference. State media pointed out that China was the first non-Arab country to recognise Algeria’s independence in 1962. Chinese media seek to connect this historical foundation to the present, stressing that Chinese support goes beyond pure economic interests. SCMP highlighted that Xi, in addition to committing to new financial support for Algeria’s development, also sought to deepen bilateral cooperation in cultural and informational exchanges via tourism, media, and think tanks.
Beyond big-picture diplomacy, this meeting also had concrete results in strengthening technology cooperation by issuing a joint statement and signing agreements that included multiple sectors such as nuclear, information and communication technology, the aerospace industry, petrochemicals, and renewable energy.
Furthermore, both sides committed to an increase in security and defence cooperation as China and Algeria agreed to work together to combat extremism and terrorism and support neighbouring countries such as Somalia in countering terrorism. This comes as France, a former colonial power in the region, is scaling down its counterterrorism efforts. The security aspect has caused concern to Western observers, as it signals China expanding its regional influence beyond economics into the security realm.
2. Implications for MENA, the EU and International Stakeholders
The regional implications of the Sino-Algerian partnership are significant as Algeria can serve as a model for what Chinese-driven economic and security development in the MENA region could look like. Xi Jinping indicated that China is interested in cooperating with Algeria in broader China-Arab and China-Africa regional frameworks.
Chinese economic influence in Algeria and its rich oil and gas reserves is longstanding. China replaced France as Algeria’s leading exporter in 2013, and Algeria was the first Arab country to sign a high-level “comprehensive strategic partnership” with Beijing. This was followed by a significant increase in Chinese influence and investment in infrastructure development as Algeria entered the Belt-and-Road initiative. Last year, this strategic cooperation was renewed for another five years until 2026, estimated to encompass a total of $7 billion in bilateral trade. Chinese outlets have further hinted that China favours Algeria joining the BRICS. This record of Chinese interest and promises of fast-tracking Algeria’s development could give China leverage in arguing that its sustained interest in Algeria could translate to long-term investment in MENA. Indeed, according to the China BRI Investment Report 2021, the majority of Chinese BRI investment projects in 2021 were aimed at the MENA region. Chinese media has also sought to position China as an anticolonial alternative to France and the West, making a point to highlight France’s colonial past in the region when reporting the Algerian president’s visit.
Regional media has responded cautiously to the Algeria visit so far, voicing concerns about whether trade relationships and BRICS membership with China are beneficial beyond geopolitical prestige. Still, Beijing’s growing influence in the MENA region and potential as a partner is being noted as an increasingly viable option. An example for that could be set by China’s growing reach in the Middle East and the Arab states there. China’s infrastructure investments in the Middle East have grown considerably, notably through a number of ports across the UAE and neighbouring countries, and trade with China has grown significantly while trade with the US fell, according to the IMF.
The US’ reaction has been to push for more security cooperation with its traditional allies in the region - both in the Middle East and in MENA by promoting an expansion of the 2020 Abraham Accords. At the same time, policy experts recommend that the US and the West focus their cooperation to expand to areas that China has been more willing to provide assistance in in the past - such as in green infrastructure and energy, and human capital development.
In conclusion, as Algeria strengthens its comprehensive strategic partnership with China, it is crucial to understand this development within the context of Algeria diversifying its economy away from a dependence on Europe while also seeking to raise its geopolitical profile. The regional response to the visit has highlighted that even in traditionally Western-allied countries such as Morocco, China’s growing investment and influence are watched closely and with interest. It should serve as a wake-up call to the West to reconsider its approach to regional economic and security cooperation vis-à-vis growing Chinese influence and to better enable countries like Algeria to develop and diversify their economy within Western partnership frameworks.