Spanish prime minister visits Algeria as ties recover after Western Sahara dispute

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said in Algiers on Monday that he wanted to deepen ties with Algeria as the two countries work to repair relations after a dispute over Western Sahara.

Sanchez said the visit, his first to Algeria in four years, had particular importance for Spain. He described Algeria as both a neighbouring country and a strategic partner. He was accompanied by senior Spanish energy executives and said Algeria was Spain's largest supplier of natural gas this year.

Relations between Algeria and Spain worsened in 2022 after Spain backed Morocco's sovereignty claim over Western Sahara, reversing its long-held neutral position on the dispute over its former colony. Algeria, which supports the pro-independence Polisario Front in Western Sahara, was angered by the change.

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune said talks with Sanchez were fruitful and frank, and that the visit gave bilateral relations new impetus. Tebboune said the talks covered energy, ways to encourage Spanish companies to invest in Algeria, migration issues and Western Sahara.

Sanchez said it was essential to strengthen political dialogue between Spain and Algeria and to build a mutually beneficial economic partnership.

After Spain backed Morocco's plan for Western Sahara in 2022, Algeria suspended a 2002 friendship treaty with Spain, recalled its ambassador and froze banking operations linked to trade with Madrid. The two countries began restoring commercial ties last year, and Algeria said in March this year that it had reactivated the friendship treaty.