Algerian FM Attaf Commends Biden Administration’s Western Sahara Policy, Citing Satisfaction

BY: Hana Saada

ALGIERS – In an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor media, Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf expressed his satisfaction with the Biden administration’s policy towards the Western Sahara issue. Despite not revoking the recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the territory, a decision made by former President Donald Trump, Attaf commended the current administration for its nuanced approach.

Ahmed Attaf highlighted that recent statements by the Biden administration regarding Western Sahara signified a more favorable stance compared to the previous administration. “The Biden administration did not endorse the Trump decision at all,” Attaf emphasized during the interview on August 9. “On the contrary, they are explicitly distancing themselves from the position expressed by President Trump.”

At the heart of Attaf’s satisfaction lies the American statement issued after his meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The statement reaffirmed Blinken’s “full support” for the work of the United Nations envoy to Western Sahara, Staffan de Mistura. Attaf interpreted this as a move away from recognizing Moroccan sovereignty. “It means you don’t recognize that the territory is Moroccan,” Attaf argued. “If you recognize it, you wouldn’t ask for an extra effort to find the solution.”

While acknowledging that the Biden administration has not revoked the recognition outright, Attaf emphasized the significance of the call for renewed efforts to find a political solution. “What we are indeed asking of this administration is a very specific thing: to help relaunch the peace process, and that is precisely what it is doing through calls like this,” he stated.

Beyond the Western Sahara issue, Ahmed Attaf underscored the importance of the burgeoning political dialogue between Algeria and the United States. He expressed his commitment to strengthening the Algerian-American friendship and noted the substantive progress made in political dialogue over the past two years.

Economically, Attaf highlighted the presence of American oil and gas companies in Algeria as a positive sign of improving relations. “Algeria is winning in the eyes, not only of the administration, but also of the American business community,” Attaf stated, seeing this as a positive indicator of bilateral relations.

In terms of Algeria’s relations with Russia, Attaf emphasized the strategic and historical ties between the two countries that have spanned over six decades. While acknowledging Western criticism of Algeria’s close ties with Moscow, Attaf emphasized that the long-standing relationship cannot be easily dismantled. He underlined the necessity of certain defense and security partnerships for Algeria’s essential needs.

Addressing the situation in Niger, Attaf condemned the coup and called for the restoration of constitutional and democratic order. He cautioned against relying solely on military intervention and advocated for a political and diplomatic solution. He stressed that the support for the military dimension as a primary option is limited, with many countries favoring political avenues.

Lastly, on the topic of the Ukrainian conflict, Attaf reiterated Algeria’s commitment to its independent and non-aligned foreign policy. He noted Algeria’s refusal to succumb to Western pressure to abandon its stance of neutrality in the Ukraine conflict. Algeria abstained from a UN General Assembly resolution, aligning with its principle of supporting a political solution within the United Nations framework.

As Algeria prepares to take a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council in 2024, Attaf revealed that Russia had welcomed Algeria’s offer to mediate in the Ukrainian crisis. However, convincing Ukraine to engage in negotiations remains a challenge, as they seek a solution aligned with their own vision.

In this comprehensive interview, Ahmed Attaf offered insights into Algeria’s diplomatic relations and positions on several global issues, underlining the country’s commitment to peace, dialogue, and non-alignment.

Here is the link to the original article:

https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2023/08/algerian-fm-satisfied-bidens-western-sahara-policy