Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf paid an official go to to Damascus on Saturday, simply 4 days after King Mohammed VI of Morocco congratulated Ahmed Al-Sharaa on assuming the Syrian presidency for the transitional interval.
The go to comes amid important geopolitical shifts, significantly following the autumn of Bashar Al-Assad’s regime, which had lengthy loved Algeria’s help. Al-Sharaa, seen as a key determine for change in Syrian and Arab politics, was beforehand labeled a “terrorist” by Attaf and the Algerian institution.
For years, Algeria had backed Bashar Al-Assad’s navy campaigns, which the exiled chief justified as a battle towards terrorist teams, together with opposition forces led by Al-Sharaa. Analysts view Algeria’s current outreach to Damascus as a realistic adjustment to the brand new political actuality. However, the velocity of this rapprochement has taken observers unexpectedly.
Despite Algeria’s long-standing dedication to supporting the Polisario Front, Attaf’s fast engagement with Al-Sharaa—simply days after Morocco’s royal message—suggests an try and preempt any potential Moroccan-Syrian rapprochement.
Political analyst Lahcen Akrittit argues that Al-Assad’s downfall represents a setback for the so-called “resistance axis” within the Middle East and North Africa, a bloc wherein Algeria had positioned itself. This shift, mixed with current regional developments, has additional remoted Algeria diplomatically, significantly as Syria seeks to reintegrate into the Arab fold.
“The new Syrian leadership wants to restore its ties with the Arab world, which means distancing itself from the old resistance bloc. This shift may include supporting Arab consensus issues, such as Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara, a stance shared by the majority of Arab nations,” Akrittit informed Hespress AR.
He emphasised that King Mohammed VI’s message to Al-Sharaa alerts rising ties between Morocco and Syria, reinforcing this new route. Meanwhile, Algeria’s try to keep up its affect via Attaf’s go to might show unsuccessful, as Damascus more and more aligns with broader Arab safety and stability pursuits, the place Morocco performs a number one function.
Abbas El Wardi, a professor of public legislation at Mohammed V University in Rabat, sees Algeria’s transfer as an act of diplomatic desperation amid its rising worldwide isolation.
“Algeria openly supported the Assad regime throughout the Syrian war, including backing the militias that fought alongside it. Now, its foreign policy is riddled with contradictions, as it tries to salvage old alliances despite shifting geopolitical realities,” El Wardi defined.
He criticized Algeria’s reliance on uncoordinated diplomatic maneuvers, arguing that such ways are outdated in at present’s world order. “The Syrian leadership is well aware of who stood by them and who opposed them during the war. Algeria’s past actions will not be forgotten, making it difficult to rebuild trust with the new government in Damascus,” he added.
With Syria shifting towards regional reintegration and new management shaping its overseas coverage, Algeria’s previous help for the Assad regime might hinder its skill to keep up robust bilateral ties. Analysts consider Morocco’s proactive diplomacy and Syria’s shifting priorities will reshape alliances within the area, additional weakening Algeria’s regional affect.
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