Policy Assessment:
Progress Center for Policies
Introduction
The recent visit of U.S. presidential advisor Massad Boulos to North Africa—particularly Algeria—has reignited debate over Washington’s evolving strategy on the African continent. The tour highlights America’s intent to reposition itself geopolitically, forge new strategic relationships, and challenge growing influence from rivals like China, Russia, and Turkey in North and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Key Developments and Context
July 27, 2025: Massad Boulos, President Donald Trump’s Special Advisor on African and Middle Eastern Affairs, paid an official visit to Algiers, part of a tour that began on July 22 and included Tunis, Tripoli, Benghazi, and Paris, with Morocco next on the itinerary.
The visit comes amid declining French influence in Africa, increasing regional competition from Russia, China, and Turkey, and Washington’s desire to reassert itself in key geopolitical theatres like the Sahel and North Africa.
After his meeting with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, Boulos emphasized the “tremendous potential for U.S.-Algerian cooperation,” particularly in energy, calling the visit “highly productive.”
This aligns with Washington’s wider approach: building solid bilateral partnerships with key regional players to ensure security cooperation, economic access, and counterterrorism alignment, especially in the Sahel.
Strategic Drivers of the U.S. Pivot
The U.S. is diversifying its regional partnerships post-withdrawal from its Agadez base in Niger, now exploring alternative footholds such as Mali and Algeria.
Concurrently, U.S. envoy Rudolph Atallah was in Bamako promoting a U.S. counterterrorism vision for the Sahel, signaling a multi-pronged diplomatic strategy in the region.
Algeria’s strategic relevance is rising:
It holds 20% of the world’s rare earth reserves.
Recent legal reforms and exploration deals (e.g., with Chevron in 2025) underscore Algeria’s new openness to foreign investment.
By 2024, the country began monetizing rare minerals, with revenues projected to reach $150 billion.
On Jan 27, 2025, Algeria signed a landmark military cooperation memorandum with AFRICOM, represented by General Michael Langley, solidifying its military engagement with the U.S.
Geopolitical Tensions and the Western Sahara File
Boulos did not address the Western Sahara issue publicly in Algeria—though he had earlier suggested in April 2025 that U.S. recognition of Moroccan sovereignty is conditional on Sahrawi consent.
Algerian analysts viewed his silence with frustration, as Algiers had hoped for a U.S. revision of its 2020 recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the territory.
Moroccan observers, on the other hand, interpreted Boulos’ silence as confirmation of U.S. support for Moroccan claims.
Analysts suggest Washington is trying to balance both sides, maintaining a pro-Moroccan stance while calming Algerian concerns in pursuit of broader strategic alignment.
U.S. diplomacy may seek a UN-mediated compromise anchored in Morocco’s autonomy plan while using economic incentives—especially involving Algeria’s mineral wealth—as a potential lever.
Energy, Minerals, and the “Deals over Aid” Doctrine:
The Biden-to-Trump transition has reinforced a pragmatic, transactional approach to Africa—“deals, not aid.”
Algeria’s renewable energy, agriculture, and tourism sectors are increasingly attractive to U.S. firms.
The U.S. is particularly focused on energy partnerships and rare earths access, especially as Europe looks for non-Russian gas alternatives in the post-Ukraine war context.
On March 9, 2025, Algeria’s ambassador in Washington, Sabri Boukadoum, explicitly offered mineral deals to the U.S.—a notable shift from past cautiousness.
Libya and the Sahel: Algeria’s Central Role:
U.S. policy architects view Algeria as indispensable for any viable Libya or Sahel strategy.
Algeria’s deep understanding of the Libyan political crisis, along with its influence in Mali and Niger, makes it an unavoidable partner.
Boulos’s tour suggests Washington aims to build diplomatic pathways with Algeria to address broader regional instability and security vacuums—especially as France loses its traditional leverage.
Key Takeaways
Massad Boulos’s trip is part of a broader repositioning strategy, not a one-off visit, aiming to strengthen U.S. presence in Africa amid fierce competition from global powers.
Washington sees Algeria as a pivotal regional actor, especially in the energy, minerals, and security arenas.
The U.S. is carefully managing its delicate relationship with Morocco and Algeria, attempting to uphold its pro-Morocco stance on Western Sahara without alienating Algiers.
Economic diplomacy, particularly involving rare earths and energy, is central to this strategy.
Algeria’s cooperation is essential for Washington’s Sahel stabilization plans, especially in Mali, Libya, and beyond.
Conclusion
The Trump administration, through its envoy Massad Boulos, is recalibrating U.S. foreign policy in Africa with a strategy based on economic leverage, regional partnerships, and geopolitical balance. Algeria stands out as a critical node in this strategy, not only for its natural resources but also for its regional influence. While tensions remain—especially around Western Sahara—Washington appears committed to building a functional, interest-based partnership with Algiers as part of a wider re-engagement strategy across the African continent.
