Algeria issues a warning to France over military manoeuvres with Morocco near its border

Algiers describes these manoeuvres as a ‘provocative’ action

Abdelmadjid Tebboune, presidente de Argelia, y Ahmed Fattah, ministro de Asuntos Exteriores de Argelia durante la 38 cumbre del Consejo Africano de Paz y Seguridad de la región MENA - PHOTO/ MINISTERIO DE COMUNICACIÓN DE ARGELIA — Abdelmadjid Tebboune, President of Algeria, and Ahmed Fattah, Algerian Foreign Minister during the 38th summit of the African Peace and Security Council of the MENA region - PHOTO/ MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATION OF ALGERIA

07/03/25

Diplomatic tensions between Algeria and France have intensified once again following the announcement of the joint military exercises ‘Sharki 2025’ between France and Morocco, scheduled for September in the Rachidia region, close to the Algerian border. Algeria has described these manoeuvres as a ‘provocative’ action that could further aggravate relations with France and affect regional stability.

The Algerian government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has expressed its concern about these military exercises. The secretary general of the ministry, Lounes Magramane, met with the French ambassador to Algeria, Stéphane Romatet, to discuss the issue. During the meeting, Magramane emphasised the risk that these manoeuvres represent for stability in the region and warned that they could exacerbate the existing diplomatic crisis between the two countries. 

Magramane asked France for an official clarification of its position on ‘Sharki 2025’ and asked the ambassador to convey Algeria's concerns to his government. He emphasised that these actions could have dangerous consequences in an already tense context.

A context of fragile relations

Tensions between Algeria and France are not new and have been fuelled by multiple factors, including the 1968 migration agreement, recent statements by French officials about Algeria and the Algerian regime's refusal to cooperate on key consular matters. The planning of ‘Sharki 2025’ adds to this series of disagreements, which has generated a strong reaction from the Algerian government.

<p>Emmanuel Macron (der.), saluda al salir con el príncipe Moulay Hassan (centro) de Marruecos y el rey Mohamed VI (izq.) de Marruecos tras asistir a una ceremonia en el Arco del Triunfo en París el 11 de noviembre de 2018 como parte de las conmemoraciones por el centenario del armisticio del 11 de noviembre de 1918, que puso fin a la Primera Guerra Mundial - REUTERS/ YVES HERMAN </p> — Emmanuel Macron (right) with Prince Moulay Hassan (centre) of Morocco and King Mohamed VI (left) of Morocco - REUTERS/ YVES HERMAN

The ‘Sharki 2025’ exercise, which is the second of its kind, is scheduled to begin on 22 September 2025 in the Rachidia region, less than 100 kilometres from Bechar, on Algeria's southwestern border. The initiative was coordinated during a meeting at the headquarters of the French military inspectorate in Salé, Morocco, on 22 and 23 May 2024, with the aim of synchronising resources and equipment from both nations. The training will take place at specific facilities, such as the ‘Rahmat Allah’ and ‘Afrido’ Artillery Training Centre (CTM).

The Algerian government considers the proximity of these exercises to its border to be a direct challenge to its security and a destabilising factor for the region. In this sense, the warning to France underlines the seriousness with which Algeria perceives this military manoeuvre and its possible impact on already delicate bilateral relations. 

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