Diplomatic Freeze: France and Algeria Lock Horns in Expulsion Spat

France and Algeria are locked in a fresh diplomatic standoff after Algiers expelled 15 French officials, prompting Paris to retaliate by expelling Algerians with diplomatic passports but no visas. France’s foreign ministry summoned Algeria’s chargé d’affaires to inform him of the decision and warned of further measures depending on how the situation evolves. The once-colonial relationship has long been rocky, but tensions spiked last year when French President Emmanuel Macron backed Morocco’s stance on Western Sahara, angering Algiers. A brief diplomatic thaw followed a recent visit by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, but it quickly collapsed into tit-for-tat expulsions. Barrot now describes the relationship as “totally blocked,” signaling a deepening rift between the two nations.