Algeria joins the list of African countries looking to deepen ties with Turkey

During the year so far, the Eurasian nation of Turkey has actively been deepening its engagement with various African states, either by reinvigorating existing bilateral relations or establishing new strategic partnerships across the continent.

• Turkey has increased its diplomatic and strategic engagement with African nations throughout the year, notably with Algeria, Nigeria, Egypt, and Ethiopia.
• Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune will visit Turkey for high-level talks, including the inaugural Türkiye-Algeria High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council meeting in Ankara.
• The visit aims to boost bilateral ties, especially in economic, political, and security sectors, with several agreements expected to be signed.
• Turkey has also advanced its partnerships with Egypt and Nigeria, signing a $350 million defence agreement with Egypt and trade and security deals with Nigeria.

Algeria now seems to be in this mix, as its president, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, has been scheduled to visit his Turkish counterpart, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, from the 6th of May to the 8th at the invitation of the Turkish head of state.

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The meeting would ensure that both countries enhance their diplomatic and strategic ties as they prepare for a landmark engagement in Ankara.

On May 7, officials from Türkiye and Algeria will convene for the inaugural session of the Türkiye-Algeria High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, a major step in formalizing and expanding their partnership. The meeting, confirmed by Communications Director Burhanettin Duran, will take place in the Turkish capital, Ankara.

The council aims to unite prominent ministers from both nations to deliberate across various sectors, as seen on Daily Sabah.

A primary objective of the agenda is to bolster bilateral ties, with a specific focus on economic partnership, political synchronization, and enduring strategic priorities.

Beyond bilateral matters, both sides are also set to deliberate on pressing regional and global developments.

It is expected that several agreements will be signed during the state visit.

These agreements are intended to establish a more rigorous framework for ongoing collaboration, marking a significant evolution in the bilateral relations between Türkiye and Algeria.

Some of Turkey’s engagement in Africa during the year so far

As part of their growing involvement in political mediation and regional security, officials from Turkey and Egypt convened in Cairo in March for fresh diplomatic dialogues.

These meetings centered on addressing instability within several of Africa's vulnerable regions, specifically the Sahel, the Horn of Africa, and Libya.

The talks were organised by Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Egyptian Expatriates and marked the third round of Egyptian-Turkish consultations on African affairs.

Officials from both countries also held the sixth round of consultations dedicated to Libya.

Turkey had also signed a $350 million defence agreement with Egypt in February.

In the same month, the president of Turkey paid a visit to East Africa’s largest economy, Ethiopia, where he and his delegation received an official and elaborate welcome.

A few weeks earlier, Nigeria signed a series of trade and security agreements with Turkey aimed at boosting bilateral trade to $5 billion and strengthening cooperation on defence.

Initial reports showed that both countries inked nine memoranda of understanding covering trade, energy, defence, media, education, and agricultural standards, during Nigeria’s president, Bola Tinubu’s, visit to the Euroasian country.