Algeria-US Discuss Reinforcing ‘Strategic Partnership’

Secretary Antony J. Blinken receives Algerian counterpart in Washington. (AFP)
Secretary Antony J. Blinken receives Algerian counterpart in Washington. (AFP)
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Algeria-US Discuss Reinforcing ‘Strategic Partnership’

Secretary Antony J. Blinken receives Algerian counterpart in Washington. (AFP)
Secretary Antony J. Blinken receives Algerian counterpart in Washington. (AFP)

Secretary Antony J. Blinken said on Wednesday that the US and Algeria share important security, economic, people-to-people ties, and a lot of shared interests, “particularly when it comes to dealing with terrorism, and also advancing peace and security in the broad region and particularly, of course, in the Sahel.”

During his meeting with Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf in Washington, Blinken expressed aspirations to discuss the matters suggested by his Algerian counterpart in addition to electing Algeria as non-permanent member of the Security Council for the year 2024.

For his part, Attaf said that he met several years ago with the late Secretary Madeleine Albright.

“Since then, the relations between our two countries have come a long way in fulfilling the promises that we envisioned together.”

The Algerian foreign ministry revealed that the two officials discussed the situation in Niger, Mali, and Libya and reaffirmed the two countries’ support for peaceful solutions to these crises, in a way that spares the region the military option.

Attaf arrived in Washington on Wednesday upon an invitation by Blinken, said the ministry, adding that the two-day visit is part of efforts to reinforce economic cooperation and intensify political dialogue between Algeria and the US in a way that serves both parties’ aspiration of building a strategic partnership and advances their joint pledges regarding establishing stability in the region and the world.



Syria’s Al-Sharaa Says No to Arms Outside State Control

Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa (C) arrives for a meeing with visiting Druze officials from Lebanon's Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) in Damascus on December 22, 2024. (Photo by AFP)
Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa (C) arrives for a meeing with visiting Druze officials from Lebanon's Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) in Damascus on December 22, 2024. (Photo by AFP)
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Syria’s Al-Sharaa Says No to Arms Outside State Control

Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa (C) arrives for a meeing with visiting Druze officials from Lebanon's Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) in Damascus on December 22, 2024. (Photo by AFP)
Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa (C) arrives for a meeing with visiting Druze officials from Lebanon's Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) in Damascus on December 22, 2024. (Photo by AFP)

Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa said his administration would announce the new structure of the defense ministry and military within days.

In a joint press conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Sunday, al-Sharaa said that his administration would not allow for arms outside the control of the state.

An official source told Reuters on Saturday that Murhaf Abu Qasra, a leading figure in the insurgency that toppled Bashar al-Assad two weeks ago, had been named as defense minister in the interim government.
Sharaa did not mention the appointment of a new defense minister on Sunday.
Sharaa discussed the form military institutions would take during a meeting with armed factions on Saturday, state news agency SANA said.
Prime Minister Mohammed al-Bashir said last week that the defense ministry would be restructured using former opposition factions and officers who defected from Assad's army.

Earlier Sunday, Lebanon’s Druze leader Walid Jumblatt held talks with al-Sharaa in Damascus.

Jumblatt expressed hope that Lebanese-Syrian relations “will return to normal.”

“Syria was a source of concern and disturbance, and its interference in Lebanese affairs was negative,” al-Sharaa said, referring to the Assad government. “Syria will no longer be a case of negative interference in Lebanon," he added.