Algerian Army's Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Said Chanegriha, is on an official visit to Italy since Tuesday to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in the fields of countering terrorism, illegal migration and border security, and to benefit from Italian technical expertise in defense and security issues, Algerian sources said.
The visit came at the invitation of Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, Chief of the Italian Defense Staff, according to an Algerian Defense Ministry statement.
“This visit is part of strengthening cooperation between the People's National Army and the Italian Armed Forces. Issues of common interest will be discussed on this occasion,” the statement said, without elaborating.
The visit comes two months after both countries held the Strategic Dialogue in Rome, a consultation mechanism that has become increasingly important for sustaining the partnership between Rome and Algiers.
“Algeria is a natural partner for Italy, both economically and politically. Our country aims to further strengthen cooperation with the southern shore of the Mediterranean to address common challenges together,” Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani had stated at the Dialogue.
He also said “dialogue with Algiers is crucial for promoting de-escalation in the Middle East and contributing to the stability of the entire region.”
The Italian and Algerian delegations had met in three working groups dedicated to political and security cooperation, economic cooperation and the Mattei Plan for Africa, and bilateral cooperation on technical and cultural issues.
According to press reports, military cooperation between Algeria and Italy has seen a significant development in recent years, especially in the field of training.
The Algerian armed forces benefit from Italy’s expertise in multiple areas, such as counter-terrorism and border security.
A number of agreements were signed allowing Algeria to purchase Italian military equipment, including warplanes and naval vessels.
These agreements aim to strengthen the capabilities of the Algerian army and to hold joint military exercises between both navies in the Mediterranean.
Also, cooperation between Algeria and Italy focus on countering common security threats, such as terrorism and organized crime, through the exchange of information and expertise.
