Sánchez's Algeria visit
Sánchez journeys to Algeria next Monday to address Western Sahara crisis with Algiers
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Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez will travel to Algeria next Monday to try to repair a deep diplomatic rift, according to El Periódico de Aragón and multiple regional outlets. The visit will be his second to the North African country — his first was in 2020, just before relations collapsed.
The crisis began after Sánchez shifted Spain's position on Western Sahara, backing Morocco's autonomy plan for the disputed territory. Algeria, a strong supporter of the Sahrawi independence movement, reacted by suspending the Treaty of Friendship it held with Spain.
How Spain's Morocco Pivot Broke the Algerian Alliance
In March 2022, Sánchez sent a letter to Morocco's King Mohammed VI endorsing Rabat's autonomy plan for Western Sahara. Spain had been officially neutral on the issue for decades. The move was seen as a major concession to Morocco — and a direct blow to Algeria, which backs the Polisario Front's push for full independence for the territory.
Algeria responded swiftly. It recalled its ambassador from Madrid and, in June 2022, formally suspended the Treaty of Friendship and Good Neighborliness signed with Spain in 2002. That treaty was the legal backbone of bilateral ties between the two countries. Algeria also briefly halted gas supplies through the Medgaz pipeline, adding economic pressure on Madrid.
Algeria's Gas Leverage Over Spain Made Talks Urgent
Algeria is one of Spain's most important gas suppliers. Before the crisis, Algeria provided roughly 40% of Spain's natural gas imports through two undersea pipelines. The threat of supply cuts gave Algiers serious leverage over Madrid, especially as Europe scrambled for energy during the Russia-Ukraine war.
Spain managed to diversify its gas sources after the rupture, buying more liquefied natural gas from the United States and other suppliers. But energy security remains a key reason why Sánchez wants to fix the relationship. A restored partnership with Algiers would help Spain lock in stable, low-cost supply for years ahead.
Sánchez's Second Algeria Trip Carries Heavy Diplomatic Weight
Monday's visit will be only the second time a sitting Spanish prime minister has traveled to Algiers. The symbolism matters. Sánchez's last trip there in 2020 was seen as a moment of warm ties — before his Western Sahara shift changed everything. Returning now signals that Spain considers the repair of this relationship a top priority.
The talks are expected to focus on restoring the suspended friendship treaty and rebuilding trade and energy cooperation. Both governments face pressure to reach a deal. Algeria needs foreign investment, and Spain needs diplomatic stability on its southern flank, where migration and energy security are constant concerns, according to La Opinión de Zamora.
Western Sahara Dispute Remains the Hardest Knot to Untie
The core problem has not gone away. Spain has not walked back its support for Morocco's autonomy plan. Algeria insists on the right of the Sahrawi people to a self-determination referendum. That gap is wide. Any deal Sánchez reaches in Algiers will likely need careful wording to avoid angering Rabat while giving Algiers enough to declare a win.
The Polisario Front, which controls refugee camps in southern Algeria housing an estimated 173,000 Sahrawi people, is watching the visit closely. Any sign that Spain is softening its pro-Morocco stance could ease tensions with Algiers. But it could simultaneously destabilize the fragile balance Spain is trying to maintain with both neighbors at once, according to Diario de Ibiza.
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