France and Algeria’s Diplomatic Ties Strain Further Following New Expulsions
Tensions between France and Algeria have escalated into a full-blown diplomatic crisis, marked by reciprocal expulsions and deepening mistrust. On May 12, Algeria expelled 15 French diplomats for occupying “irregular positions,” following earlier expulsions linked to the arrest of an Algerian official in Paris. France condemned the move as unjustified, promising a swift response. Strained relations are further complicated by France’s backing of Morocco’s Western Sahara autonomy plan—an affront to Algeria’s pro-Sahrawi stance. Alleged espionage and unresolved migration disputes have added fuel to the fire. With over $13 billion in annual trade at stake, business leaders are urging restraint as geopolitical tensions threaten to destabilize an already fragile relationship rooted in a fraught colonial past.
