AlgeriaThe visit to Algeria of Deputy Foreign Minister and Special Representative of the Russian President for the Middle East and Africa, Mikhail Bogdanov, had several implications on the nature of bilateral relations between the two countries, particularly with the emergence undeclared indicators of tension during the crisis. in recent months, against a backdrop of the presence of Russian Wagner forces and their activity in Mali.
Bogdanov described his country’s relations with Algeria as good and at a strategic level, stressing that the meeting he had with Russian Deputy Defense Minister Ionos Bek Ivekurov, with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, the head of the army staff, Lieutenant General Said Chengriha and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmed Attaf discussed not only bilateral relations but also the situation in the region and in the Sahel region, in addition to the exchange of visions and advice, indicating Russia’s readiness to continue meetings and cooperation with Algeria, including political discussions.
The Russian official’s visit to Algeria coincides with media reports that Russia withdrew its advanced military equipment from its bases in Syria and transferred it to Libya a few days after the fall of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, and after Algeria has renewed its call to the Security Council for the withdrawal of foreign forces, fighters and mercenaries whose presence is exacerbating tensions and threatening Libya’s sovereignty.
Energized after apathy
Professor of international relations and expert on geopolitical issues, Muhammad Amroun, believes that the visit of the Russian president’s representative to Algeria is “important” if it is placed in its regional and international context, which is experiencing several developments, including the fall of the regime of Assad. , the situation in Gaza and the ongoing Ukrainian-Russian war, in addition to the situation in the African Sahel region.
Speaking to Al Jazeera Net, Amroun confirms that the visit is also important for bilateral relations between the two countries, as they have been characterized by apathy in recent months due to many considerations, including the presence of the forces Russian Wagner in northern Mali.
He referred to the traditional historical relations between Algeria and Russia at all political, diplomatic and even military levels, which obliges Russia to “consult its trusted partners, such as Algeria, regarding developments in Syria, this which will put an end to the state of coldness and apathy in the country.” Algerian-Russian relations.”
He considered the holding of the fourth session of the Algerian-Russian joint commission as an opportunity to restore confidence between the two parties after a period of apathy, discuss the reality of the Sahel region and increase coordination, consultation and the exchange of visions concerning all. files.
Messages and details
The professor of international relations and expert in geopolitical issues stressed that the representative of the Russian president had undoubtedly carried a set of messages from President Putin to Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, in addition to questions of cooperation and rapprochement of points of view, and related . to provide explanations and clarifications from Russia, particularly with regard to the Sahel region, and to listen to the Algerian vision in this context.
Regarding the question of whether this visit brings assurances to Algeria, he asserts that Algeria has repeatedly proven that it is capable of protecting its national security on its own, which makes the question of Russian assurances a kind of question. ‘exaggeration.
He stressed that Algeria cannot under any circumstances be excluded from arrangements in the Sahel region for many reasons, and that the Algerian vision based on the need for dialogue and cooperation, the rejection of military interventions and the refusal The use of force to resolve crises is often considered a correct view, which requires Russia to coordinate more with Algeria.
For his part, the expert in geopolitics, security and immigration, Hassan Qasimi, expected that the Wagner file would be definitively closed after the strong reactions of the Algerian side to the activity of the forces Russians in Mali, emphasizing that Russia is an ally of Algeria, even if there has been a lack of agreement on certain events that took place on Algeria’s borders.
Russian bases in Libya
Speaking to Al Jazeera Net, Qasimi assessed that the information circulating in Western media about the transfer of Russian military bases in Syria to Libya are tendentious attempts to transfer the conflict to Libya, because there is no direct threat to Russian military bases in Syria, with the possibility of geopolitical conflicts developing in the future.
However, he considered that the potential transfer by Russia of its military bases from Syria to Libya cannot constitute a threat to the security of Algeria since it is not its enemy, which requires coordination and consultation with Algeria on this issue alongside other parties such as the Libyan authority. and Egypt.
Expert Hassan Qasimi said that the events that occurred in Mali with the presence of Wagner’s Russian forces cannot be repeated in Libya.
Political scientist Ali Rabij believes that Algeria’s position is very clear regarding military bases in the Sahel region or in the Maghreb region in general, since it has refused to have military bases on its soil, or in Libya, Tunisia or Mali, due to the impact of such experiences on the security of the countries by becoming a direct gateway for the military deployment of foreign forces.
Rabij said, in his interview with Al Jazeera Net, that Algeria’s position is firm regarding military bases, which could make it one of the points of contention between it and Russia, which may want to establish a base military in Libya, believing that this could increase tensions between Algeria and Russia, and between all… Another country wants to establish military bases in the region.
Concerning the messages that the Russian side can convey to Algeria in the Libyan issue, I believe that it will not deviate from its efforts to convince Algeria to change its position, because Russia will not can renounce its presence in Libya.
He stressed that Algeria will remain firm and adhere to its position because it believes in a theory according to which “it is not possible to emerge from the Libyan crisis without the Libyan brothers sitting together, and the Libyans only , to dialogue”. and negotiations and make concessions between them in order to reach a solution leading to the holding of elections without foreign intervention.