Morocco-Algeria: the fragile balance threatened by the return of Trump

If the newly elected US President Donald Trump does not continue the “overtures” and attempts to push Morocco and Algeria to restraint, the risk of open conflict between the two neighboring countries will be high. At least that’s what the think tank International Crisis Group thinks.

“Mutual restraint and American pressure have helped to contain tensions between the two countries, but an escalation of pressure could undermine the status quo,” notes the ICG in its latest report dated November 29, fearing, however, that the change of American administration – the return to the White House of President Donald Trump – transforms tensions between Morocco and Algeria into open conflict. The former and – soon to be new – president had recorded the American recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara in exchange for the normalization of diplomatic relations between the kingdom and Israel, to the great discontent of Algeria and the Polisario. His successor had made the choice of a tightrope walker.