Spain and Algeria Rekindle Friendship Amidst Energy Crisis and Geopolitical Tensions
After three years of sharp tensions sparked by Spain’s position on Western Sahara, Madrid and Algiers reactivated their friendship treaty in March 2026, under the decisive influence of American mediation.
The 2026 global energy crisis, following bombings in Iran and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, turned Algerian gas into a strategic asset essential for Spain.
Despite a spectacular economic recovery and strengthened security cooperation, normalization remains fragile: Western Sahara, migration, and energy dependence continue to be latent sources of tension.
In the spring of 2026, relations between Spain and Algeria took a major turn after about three years of acute diplomatic tensions. Far from being a simple return to normalcy, this resumption of dialogue is part of a deeply degraded international context characterized by a realignment of economic and security dynamics.
Amidst this context, Madrid and Algiers now appear to be bound by a pragmatic interdependence. Spain relies on Algerian gas to secure its supply, while Algeria seeks to strengthen its European outlets and attract technological investments.
Long History Marked by Crossed Legacies
The Hispano-Algerian relations have a unique historical depth. Between 1505 and 1792, Spain controlled several important points in Oran, including Mers el-Kebir and Oran, which became a lasting Christian enclave on the Maghreb coast. This presence, lasting nearly three centuries, was not just about military domination but also powerfully shaped human and cultural exchanges between the two shores of the Mediterranean Sea.
2022-2024: Era of Dispute
In a more recent period, the balance of relations between Madrid, Algiers, and Rabat exploded in March 2022 when the Spanish government, led by socialist Pedro Sánchez, supported the Moroccan autonomy plan for Western Sahara. This decision prompted an immediate reaction from Algeria, resulting in a severe economic downturn.
Almost 9,000 Spanish companies were affected, especially in the ceramics and agri-food sectors. Only gas escaped this confrontation, as Algeria maintained its deliveries to Spain via the Medgaz gas pipeline to preserve its credibility as a reliable energy supplier.
American Mediation and Dialogue Resurgence in 2026
The bilateral thaw began in early 2026 under the decisive influence of the United States. A meeting organized in Madrid on February 8 led to a 40-page roadmap on Western Sahara. This document envisions a regional autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty, including local institutions, a separate tax system, and an integrated security organization.
Under diplomatic and strategic pressure, Algeria accepted this framework, paving the way for normalization in the region. On March 28, 2026, the Hispano-Algerian friendship treaty was officially reactivated. This sequence marks a major turning point, as Algeria now prioritizes regional stability and economic cooperation, despite historically supporting the Polisario Front.
Gas at the Heart of the New Alliance
The global energy crisis in 2026, exacerbated by bombings in Iran, played a decisive role in this rapprochement. The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz paralyzed nearly 17% of global liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports.
In this context, Algeria emerges as an indispensable partner, providing 42.5% of the gas consumed in Spain. It even agreed to increase gas flows through the Medgaz pipeline from 10% to 12.5%.
Security and Migration: Enhanced Cooperation
Beyond energy, security cooperation is a crucial pillar of the Madrid-Algeria rapprochement. Algeria is a key partner of Spain in combating Sahelian terrorism, with its army neutralizing terrorists and arresting individuals linked to jihadist support networks.
However, the migration situation remains concerning, with thousands of migrants losing their lives in 2025 while trying to reach Spain from Africa. Although arrivals in the Canaries decreased, migration through western Mediterranean routes remains active, particularly from Algerian coasts.
In January 2026, Algeria launched an initiative to normalize the legal status of its undocumented migrants in Europe and encourage their voluntary return, acknowledging the political motivations behind departures while strictly regulating reintegration conditions.
Economic Revival Under Conditions
The lifting of bilateral trade restrictions by the end of 2024 allowed for a rapid resumption of exchanges. In 2025, Spanish exports to Algeria increased by 162%, reaching nearly €900 million in the first semester. Algeria once again became a key market for Spanish companies, especially in ceramics. Total trade volume could exceed $10 billion in 2026.
Algeria now seeks to promote a strategy of upgrading in exports, focusing more on industrial equipment and semi-finished products for local development.
Desalination and Hydrogen: New Industrial Horizons
One of the major axes of Hispano-Algerian economic cooperation involves water and energy infrastructures. Algeria has initiated a $1 billion desalination program to secure its water resources, with a target of 4 billion cubic meters for agriculture, integrating renewable energy with Spanish expertise.
Simultaneously, the two nations are exploring the potential of green hydrogen in an energy transition logic and for export to Europe, a technological collaboration that could become a sustainable pillar of their partnership.
Fragile Normalization Under High Surveillance
Despite these advancements, the balance remains precarious. The Western Sahara issue remains a source of latent disagreement, and any challenge to the 2026 roadmap could revive commercial blockades.
Furthermore, Spain’s energy dependence on Algeria poses a strategic vulnerability, especially amid increased American pressure or realignment of alliances in the Middle East. Additionally, the credibility of Algeria’s migration initiative will be crucial for partnership stability, particularly concerning European human rights requirements.
In conclusion, the Madrid-Algeria axis embodies a form of geopolitical realism inherent in the contemporary world, as it is a partnership based less on political affinities than on vital imperatives. In an unstable international environment, this relationship could become a pillar of energy and strategic security in the Western Mediterranean, provided it withstands the ongoing tensions.
