France Concerned About The Algerian-Turkish rapprochement

French Economy and Finance Minister, Bruno Le Maire, expressed his country’s concern over the Algerian-Turkish rapprochement, especially at the economic level.

Bruno Le Maire added that if Paris gave way to competitors such as Turkey and China, France would find itself in great difficulties and problems in Algeria and Morocco as well, recognizing the existence of economic relationships at least between the two countries that are living a clinical death.

He stated, at a hearing of the French National Assembly (Parliament), in response to an accountability of the MP M’jid El Guerrab dated January 28, which copy is available to Echorouk, that concerning the situation in Algeria and more broadly the Maghreb, the political turmoil has caused great economic difficulties, because the political stability is a door to achieving economic stability.

He confirmed that what he called the political difficulties in Algeria (about the popular movement and the fall of the former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika), prevented Paris from exploiting the French-Algerian economic relationship as France wished.

“The Foreign Minister, Jean Yves Le Drian headed a few days ago to Algeria and we will hold a joint French-Algerian economic committee in the coming weeks that Algeria will embrace”, (without giving a specific date).

“I hope that we can benefit from this committee to revive the economic relationships between France and Algeria, which is considered vital for both countries”, which is almost a French official recognition of the existence of economic relationships between the two parties but that notice a clinical death.

“We have major economic and strategic interests”, the French Economy and Finance Minister addressed members of the National Assembly and the MP M’jid El Guerrab saying; “Let’s also be clear … We have unusually offensive rivals in these two countries (Algeria and Morocco), which are China and Turkey”.

What is astonishing is that the French minister intervened and expressed Paris annoyance and concern with the growing Turkish and Chinese presence in Algeria, according to the opinion of observers, immediately after the official state visit by the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Algeria a few days ago, especially since it is the first of its kind for a head of state to Algeria after the election of the President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tabboune.

The French minister hinted that the presence of fierce competitors of France in Algeria and Morocco in this way is not without ulterior political motives at times, which is a clear indication of the Turkish presence, especially in the region, explaining; “This would cause us problems”.

The French government official went further when he said; “If we give way to such competitors (Turkey and China), we will find ourselves in difficulties and problems, although we have everything to build a strong relationship with Algeria”.

For his part, the National Assembly MP, M’jid El Guerrab, (the representative of the French abroad), said that he had finished a mission in Algeria a few days ago, when he met French citizens, and the heads of French companies expressed their concern because of the white economic year (2019) that did not cease any important economic decisions and had an impact on industrial production.

The MP M’jid El Guerrab asked for clarifications from the French Minister of Economy and Finance whether the Renault automobile plant in Oran (western Algeria) has already been suspended or not.