Turkey - Algeria Relations
The Growing partnership between Algeria and Turkey has also been attributed to a shared history which harks back to the Ottoman period - something that Erdogan has alluded to. Turkey and Algeria share common history as well as deep-rooted cultural and brotherly ties. Algeria became a protectorate of Istanbul as a result of the Ottoman-Albanian Naval Admiral, Barbaros Hayreddin Pasha, who pledged fealty to the Ottoman state. In addition, between 1519 to 1830, Algeria was considered part of the Ottoman domains, when the French invaded and colonised the country. Today, the two countries are attempting to forge a relationship fit for the 21st-century and recent social and political change in Algeria could have a positive impact on the relationship of the two countries. Bilateral relations has gained impetus over the past years. Algeria is the largest country in Africa covering an area of 2.381.741 square km and possesses a sizable amount of natural gas and petroleum deposits, which makes it the fourth biggest economy in the region. Apart from that, Algeria is one the most important trade partners for Turkey in the region and holds a critical position in diversifying our energy sources. In this regard, Algeria is Turkey’s fourth natural gas supplier after Russia, Iran and Azerbaijan. Algeria also offers attractive investment opportunities for Turkish companies operating in the food sector. The “Friendship and Cooperation Agreement”, which was signed during the visit of the then Prime Minister Erdogan to Algeria in 2006, is a strong foundation on which bilateral relations are based. During the visit of President Erdogan to Algeria in February 2018, various aspects of the bilateral relations were taken up and both sides have reiterated their readiness to further deepen bilateral ties. Algeria is one of Turkey's leading trade partners in Africa. Energy and construction constitute main pillars of economic relations. In the economic field, bilateral relations have reached a satisfactory level. Turkey has 3.5 billion dollar worth of investments in Algeria, which makes Turkey one of the top investor countries and the largest foreign supplier of employment in Algeria. Turkey continues to encourage our businesspersons to invest in Algeria. Turkish construction firms are working inter alia on cultural restoration sites, such as Kechiova Mosque and Casbah neighborhood in the capital. The historical Kechiova Mosque underwent renovation and was re-opened to the public on 9th April 2018. Based on the Protocol signed between Yunus Emre Turkish Cultural Center and Algeria-2 University, Yunus Emre Turkish Cultural Center contributes to bilateral cultural relations and provides Turkish language courses in Algeria-2 University. There are parliamentary friendship group between Turkey and Algeria. A delegation led by Ambassador Volkan Bozkir, Head of Foreign Affairs Commission of the Grand Turkish National Assembly paid an official visit to Algeria on 24-27 December 2017 upon the invitation of Si Afif, Head of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Migration Commission of People’s National Assembly of Algeria. Mr. Si Afif in return visited Turkey on 2-5 May 2018 as the head of an Algerian parliamentary group. Instability in the Middle East, in particular Libya, and a desire to broaden political and economic links, brought Algeria and Turkey closer. Turkey's Foreign Minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, greeted his Algerian counterpart Sabri Boukadoum in Ankara in August 2020 as "my brother", an indication of the warm relations between the two sides. Deepening relations between the two countries is still a relatively recent phenomenon. The "Friendship and Cooperation Agreement" signed in 2006 in Algeria under the current AK Party government, marks one of the first attempts by Ankara to re-calibrate its relations with the West and the global south. In the past, Turkey focused more on the relations with the West. The shift by Ankara to prioritise its immediate neighborhood, particularly in the Middle East, can be described as a 'paradigm shift' in Turkey's foreign policy direction. As Turkey expanded relations with Morocco, Tunisia and Libya, special attention was paid to Algeria. In 2013, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was accompanied by 200 business people on a tour of Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia seeking to upgrade relations. It was also an indication of Turkey's growing confidence that it could harmonise relationships with its historical and erstwhile neglected neighbours and create win-win opportunities. Since then, there have been an additional three state visits by Erdogan, the latest in January 2020, following the departure of Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika who was pushed out of power and forced to resign in April 2019. Algeria's new president, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, at 74 years old, has been around for a long time, considered an insider and therefore ensured a degree of continuity between the two countries' growing relationship. When in August 2020, Tebboune requested the return of a military fugitive who had divulged top-secret information and fled to Turkey, a personal call between the two leaders resulted in a swift resolution of the case. Turkey's growing economic and military power over the last two decades has also revised political calculations in Algiers. With France's regional influence waning, Algeria is also looking to diversify its international relationships. This has increasingly taken shape in the two countries' growing economic relationship. Turkey's investments in Algeria have grown to more than $3.5 billion in recent years. With Turkish expertise in construction and a well-developed manufacturing sector, there are mutual opportunities for both sides. One of the main reasons for Algeria's slow pace for modernisation, liberalisation and development, id attributed by some to the legacy of French colonialism. In this regard, the Algerian leadership considers Turkey a strategic partner that can benefit from Ankara's experience. Algeria considers that a strong alliance with Turkey would help the government to boost its economic potential. Ankara feels the same way with both sides now working on a Turkey-Algeria High-Level Cooperation Council which would see ministerial meetings becoming more frequent. Challenges to the deepening relationship between the two sides could emerge. In the past, Paris would have enjoyed a privileged relationship with Algiers despite the hundreds of thousands of Algerians dying in the country's war of independence. France, which has taken a hawkish approach towards Turkey on Libya and the eastern Mediterranean, is unlikely to support a deepening relationship between Ankara and Algiers and may even consider a strong Algeria as a threat for its regional policies. Algeria's Hirak Movement, which resulted in Bouteflika stepping down and the resulting widespread protests across the country have not dented Turkey's confidence in deepening its relationship with the country. Protestors in the Hirak Movement had been positive in relation to Turkey seeing it as an example worth emulating for the country. More than 70 percent of the Algeria population is under the age of 30, yet few have seen the rewards from the country's extraordinary oil and gas wealth and some are far from happy with the new government of Tebboune. Except, as Algerian society seeks to chart a new way forward, the country's geopolitical position is far from certain. With an ongoing insurgency in Mali, and civil war in Libya, the Turkish-Algerian rapprochement is an opportunity. In Libya, Algeria for a long time eschewed playing a public role preferring to take a back seat. There are signs that the new government wants to take a more active approach in Libya, which has also leaned towards Turkey's position. Today, both countries have a stake in Libya, Algeria is cornered in terms of its national security, it has to protect its borders, and this has been extended lately not only on the eastern side but on the southern borders as well. Similarly, Turkey needs a strong and stable regional ally like Algeria - a prospect that is making "France and some Arab countries who are involved in Libya very nervous.
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