The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, affirmed during his interview with the television channel “Russia Today” at the beginning of February that the military maneuvers between Russia and Algeria will take place from 16 to 28 November 2023 in Bechar, some kilometers from the Algerian-Moroccan border.
This statement contradicts the Algerian Minister of National Defense’s denial, announced by the national television channel ENTV at the end of November 2022, following the broadcasting by international media, including the Russian news agency Sputnik, that joint anti-terrorist exercises between Algerian and Russian special forces, called “Desert Shield 2022”, were to take place between 16 and 28 November, in the Bechar region.
Observers say the claims by Algeria are misleading.
Under pressure from the West, Algeria was forced to distance itself from Moscow. Despite these warnings, Algiers is determined to move forward to continue serving Russia’s interests by offering it strategic access to the Western Mediterranean.
The statement by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which came a few days after the visit of the Chief of Staff of the Algerian Army, General Said Chengriha to Paris, was a riposte to the West, aimed at sending a message about the unchangeable nature of relations and the high degree of cooperation that characterizes the two countries.
This development has once again highlighted the dilemma facing Algeria: meet the expectations of the West while keeping its strategic relations with Russia intact.
This is confirmed in particular by the visits that the Algerian president, Abdelmajid Tebboune, will make next May to Paris and Moscow, during which Algeria will be presented as a non-aligned country and positioning itself equidistant between the international belligerents.
