How far can the unexpected rapprochement go? For several weeks, Algeria has been making overtures to the United States – in stark contrast to its longstanding reputation as a traditional ally of Russia. “There is no limit to our bilateral cooperation,” Algerian ambassador to Washington Sabri Boukadoum declared on November 18 during remarks at the Stimson Center, a foreign affairs think tank. “I am very optimistic,” he added.

This positive tone reflects a new reality: Algeria has recently stepped up efforts to win over Donald Trump’s America. The charm offensive is closely tied to the country’s increasing isolation on the world stage, the result of repeated crises with Morocco, Spain, Mali, and, more recently, France. Adding to the tension are cooling relations with Russia, whose Wagner paramilitaries – now known as Africa Corps – have become a source of irritation near Algeria’s desert borders with Morocco and the contested Western Sahara. In the face of this adversity, winning favor with the unpredictable Trump has allowed Algeria to ease the pressure, albeit at the cost of some diplomatic spats.

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