On A Trip To North Africa, The US Is Making Measures To Reassure Disgruntled Allies
It's easy to forget that discontent with the Biden administration has expanded to North Africa, given the focus on deteriorating relations between the US and its Gulf allies, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
President Joe Biden's failure to revoke his predecessor Donald Trump's acknowledgment of Moroccan sovereignty over the disputed Western Sahara has continued to worry Algeria. Morocco has also been irritated by Biden's refusal to move beyond Trump's "recognition."
Last August, diplomatic ties were severed between the neighbors over Western Sahara, as well as an escalation of border tensions, following a suspected drone assault in Algeria that killed three civilians and was blamed on Morocco.
In the midst of rising tensions and frustration, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken included Morocco and Algeria in his Middle East and North Africa tour. He arrived in Morocco on Monday and is expected to arrive in Algeria on Wednesday.
Tensions between Algeria and Morocco have been worsened by Trump's acceptance of Moroccan sovereignty over the disputed area, which came at the same time as Morocco committed to normalize relations with Israel.
Despite the fact that the Biden administration has yet to issue a statement reversing Trump's decision, there is a sense that Washington is ready to return to a more neutral position in order to broker a deal between Algiers and Rabat.