Donald Trump‘s appointment of Marco Rubio to the post of Secretary of State will certainly mark a major break in American diplomacy towards Algeria. Known for his inflexible line against authoritarian regimes and his displayed contempt for the Algerian regime, Rubio embodies a direct diplomatic threat to Algiers.
The arrival of Marco Rubio as Secretary of State of the United States, under the leadership of Donald Trump, is shaking up the diplomatic landscape, particularly for Algeria. This choice is part of a stated desire by the Trump administration to toughen its foreign policy, particularly targeting regimes perceived as authoritarian or hostile to American interests. Rubio, a leading figure of the conservative right, has distinguished himself by his constant criticism of the Algerian regime, which he accuses of collusion with powers deemed hostile by Washington. His accession to a key post in the US government could signal the start of a series of diplomatic and economic pressures on Algiers.
A diplomatic earthquake for the El Mouradia palace
“The recent appointment of Marco Rubio as United States Secretary of State by President-elect Donald Trump is seen as a diplomatic earthquake within the El Mouradia palace. Known for his uncompromising stance against authoritarian regimes, and in particular for his fierce opposition to the Algerian regime, Rubio embodies a direct diplomatic threat to Algiers.asserts in statements to Hespress FRthe professor of economic, social and political sciences at the Mohammed V University of Rabat, Dr Talal Cherkaoui.
This choice, far from being trivial, “is part of the desire of a Trump administration more determined than ever to adopt an assertive foreign policy and to attack regimes it considers deviant or hostile to American interests”underlines the analyst.
In a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken in 2022, “the Florida senator had demonstrated his contempt for the practices of the Algerian regime, not hesitating to denounce its support for Russia and its methods of internal repression”recalls Dr Cherkaoui, emphasizing that “this hostility finds its roots in a vision of foreign policy which associates Rubio with an uninhibited American right, disinclined to compromise diplomacy”.
As Secretary of State, “Rubio could thus favor a hard line, pushing for a progressive isolation of Algiers, in particular through economic and diplomatic sanctions”estimates the professor of economic, social and political sciences.
Tangible and multidimensional impacts
Beyond simple announcements, Dr Cherkaoui believes that “this appointment will have tangible and multidimensional repercussions”. First of all, “Algeria now sees the possibility of maintaining stable relations with an America fading away where the posture of Trump and his entourage leaves little room for regimes deemed problematic. The signals sent by Trump’s new team, including figures such as Michael Waltz at the National Security Council, portend a series of measures aimed at further marginalizing Algeria on the international stage. Algiers’ historic alliances and its anti-colonialist rhetoric, often brandished as a standard of its foreign policy, risk being undermined by increasing pressure, and even systematic criticism of its internal practices, which Rubio will undoubtedly not fail to note ”explains the analyst.
On the regional level, he concludes, “this American diplomatic reconfiguration could be beneficial for Morocco. Indeed, Rubio has always displayed implicit support for Moroccan positions, and it seems likely that his appointment will strengthen the support of the Trump administration, particularly regarding the issue of the Moroccan Sahara. With an administration that views the Algerian regime as hostile, the United States could opt to strengthen its ties with Rabat, thereby consolidating the Kingdom’s strategic position in the region. In this context, the stability and constancy of Moroccan positions become major assets, contrasting sharply with the fluctuations and diplomatic retractions of the Algerian regime..
