Algeria confirms its turn towards Italy due to Spain's "narrow and selfish calculations"

In recent days, the Algerian government has consolidated a rapprochement with Italy as a strategic partner in Europe in response to the “narrow and selfish calculations” of Spain, whose government has recently given its support to the Moroccan autonomy plan for Western Sahara, a turn heavily criticized by Algiers.

“Italy is a friendly country that has always been present in the most difficult circumstances and is above all a country with a constant adherence to principled positions on regional issues of common interest, contrary to what we have just experienced with other partners of the region, more experienced in duplicities and narrow and selfish calculations”, said the special envoy of the Algerian Government for Western Sahara and the Maghreb countries, Amar Belani, in an interview with the Algerian news portal TSA.

Risk of armed conflict with Morocco

In addition, Belani has warned of a “possible overflow” of Moroccan “warmongering actions” towards Algerian territory since Moroccan forces are attacking “traders and civilians” with the aim of hindering trade between Algeria and Mauritania.

The Algerian ambassador was referring to the death on April 10 of two civilians, a woman and her son, in an attack by a Moroccan drone on a truck in Ain Bentili, on the border between Western Sahara and Mauritania.

Belani recalled that there is an agreement between Algeria and Mauritania to build a road between the Algerian province of Tindouf and the Mauritanian town of Zuerat as an alternative to the road that connects Morocco with Mauritania through Guerguerat, in dispute between Morocco and the Polisario Front. Saharan.

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Anna Buj

Italian Prime Minster Mario Draghi (L) speaks with Algerian Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Aymen Benabderrahmane (R) during their meeting in the capital Algiers, on April 11, 2022. - The Italian Prime Minister announced a deal today to boost gas deliveries from energy heavyweight Algeria, as he steps up efforts to reduce Rome's heavy reliance on Russian imports. (Photo by FILIPPO ATTILI / Palazzo Chigi press office / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT

“Rabat is aware that the strengthening of trade between Algeria and Mauritania will give the latter country greater room for maneuver in the strategic issue of diversifying its trade flows”, Belani pointed out.

The Algerian diplomat believes that the new road would break the “quasi-monopoly” of the Guerguerat road and “allow Mauritania to distance itself from an expansionist regime that still dreams of a Greater Morocco whose fanciful borders border the Senegal River.”

When that road is completed, “Moroccan leaders will have to face the nightmare scenario of insularity that will turn their country into an island wedged between Mauritania, Western Sahara whose final status is yet to be determined, and Algeria, as a pivotal state in the Central Maghreb”.

For Belani “these are the foundations and motivations of these abominable selective assassinations, acts of state terrorism that Morocco cowardly perpetrates against peaceful merchants and innocent civilians who do not represent a threat to the Moroccan occupation forces.”

Thus, an “overflow of these war actions” on Algerian territory “would be considered a ‘casus belli’ even if Algeria proclaims that it will only wage war in legitimate defense.”

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Algeria confirms its turn towards Italy due to Spain's "narrow and selfish calculations"

Risk of armed conflict with Morocco

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