Algeria–Russia relations

Newly independent, Algeria recognized the importance of 'unity and convergence' in Third World countries in order to achieve domestic goals. This could be expressed by their support of the non-aligned movement, which began with the FLN's involvement in the 1960s.[5]

Algeria was close with the Soviet regime in the 1970s and 1980s because of the supply of arms. The approximation by the Russian press is that 'Moscow supplied 11 billion dollars in military equipment to Algeria between 1962 and 1989, equal to 70-80 percent of Algeria's inventory' and this deal mainly came about through the use of loans.^[6] In 1993, it was estimated that 90% of Algerian army's inventory was of Soviet origin.^[7]

At the same time as these relations were occurring, Algeria had taken an active stance in the Non-Aligned Movement. In 1973, Houari Boumediène hosted the Non-Aligned Movement in Algiers. According to historians it was 'with the observation that recent co-operation between Moscow and Washington looked very much like a superpower 'pretension to reign over the world".^[8] Boumediène cooperated closely with Moscow and Washington on bilateral levels but his view, iterated by hosting the Non-Aligned summit, was not one of supporting either side in the Cold War. One of the main points emphasized at Bandung, the birthplace of the Non Aligned movement, was that the Third World countries should take a stand against colonialism and neo-colonialism. In a post-colonial Algeria, subscribing to this view was a necessity. By the mid-1970s, Algeria was fully engaged in the zenith of the Non-Aligned Movement, wary of imperial powers which looked down upon the Third World. Nevertheless, presidential visits, diplomatic ties, and cordial bilateral relations continued with the two superpowers.

A different atmosphere was on the rise in the 1990s as Algeria stopped making the loan repayments to Russia, and after Putin's rise, Algeria joined NATO'S "Mediterranean Dialogue" with other Middle Eastern countries such as Egypt.^{[citation needed]}

Bouteflika's presidency, which began in April 1999, was followed shortly by Putin's presidency and the two leaders pushed for the return to more cordial relations, including discussions of arms sales and economic cooperation. In 2006, Algeria's 5.7 billion dollar debt was forgiven, and Algeria gave a 7.5 billion dollar arms deal to Russia, the first major African arms deal of Russian Federation.^[9] Bilateral relations at this point regained in strength.

In 1993, the Joint Russian-Algerian Commission on Trade, Economic, and Scientific-Technical Cooperation was established. The commission has held several meetings, focusing on enhancing bilateral trade and collaboration in various sectors. Algeria is one of Russia's top trade partners in Africa, along with Morocco and Egypt.

On 13 June 2023, Algerian president Abdelmadjid Tebboune started a three-day visit to Russia.^[10] During a meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin, they pledged to deepen the "strategic partnership" between Russia and Algeria.^[11]

In July 2023, former Algerian prime minister Aymen Benabderrahmane attended the 2023 Russia–Africa Summit in Saint Petersburg.^[12]

In November 2023, In a constantly evolving global geopolitical context, a meeting of crucial importance took place in

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Guest	Host	Place of visit	Date of visit	Notes
Houari Boumediène	Chairman Leonid Brezhnev	Moscow	13-18 December 1965
Houari Boumediène	Chairman Leonid Brezhnev	Moscow	June–July 1967
Chairman Nikolai Podgorny	Houari Boumediène	Algiers	26 March-1 April 1969
President Abdelaziz Bouteflika	President Vladimir Putin	Moscow	3-6 April 2001
President Vladimir Putin	President Abdelaziz Bouteflika	Algiers	10 March 2006
President Abdelaziz Bouteflika	President Vladimir Putin	Moscow	18-19 February 2008
President Dmitry Medvedev	President Abdelaziz Bouteflika	Algiers	6 October 2010
President Abdelmajid Tebboune	President Vladimir Putin	Moscow	13 June 2023

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Russia and Algeria have a long history of economic and trade cooperation dating back to the 1960s. Algeria sought Russia's assistance in developing key industries such as energy, mining, metallurgy, engineering, and water management. The USSR played a significant role in establishing important industrial facilities in Algeria during that time.

The energy sector has been a major area of cooperation. Russian companies, including Rosneft and Stroytransgaz, have formed partnerships and consortiums to develop hydrocarbon resources in Algeria. They have been involved in projects such as pipeline construction, renovation, and exploration of hydrocarbon reserves.

Cultural exchanges between Russia and Algeria have also taken place. Both countries have organized events like the Days of Algerian Culture in Russia and the Week of Algerian Cinema in Moscow, promoting cultural understanding and appreciation. Additionally, there is a significant presence of Algerian graduates from Russian civil and military schools, showcasing the educational ties between the two nations.

Overall, the cooperation between Russia and Algeria spans various sectors and has promoted economic development, trade, energy collaboration, and cultural exchange.

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