Diplomatic Tensions: Algeria Summons French Ambassador Over Joint Military Exercises with Morocco
Amid escalating diplomatic tensions, Algeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Thursday that Lounès Magramane, Secretary-General of the Ministry, hosted the French Ambassador to Algeria, Stéphane Romatet, at the ministry’s headquarters.
According to the Algerian news agency, the meeting aimed to draw the French diplomat’s attention to the seriousness of the planned French-Moroccan military exercises, set to take place in September in Errachidia, near the Algerian border, under the name « Sharqi 2025 », a title carrying significant implications.
In its statement, the Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs viewed these exercises as a provocative act against Algeria, warning that such an initiative could exacerbate the ongoing crisis between Algiers and Paris and escalate tensions between the two nations to a concerning level.
The Algerian official also demanded clarification on the matter and urged the French ambassador to relay Algeria’s stance to his authorities in the exact terms in which it was communicated.
It is worth noting that Morocco and France are preparing to conduct joint military exercises in the Errachidia region, in southeastern Morocco, next September under the name « Sharqi 2025 », a move perceived by Algeria as a direct threat to its strategic interests.
