Spain's Prime Minister Sanchez visits Algeria to restore diplomatic ties

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez arrived in Algiers on Monday, marking his first visit to the North African nation in four years. The trip is aimed at repairing diplomatic relations that have been strained since 2022, when Madrid abandoned its long‑standing neutrality on the Western Sahara dispute and publicly supported Morocco’s claim to the territory, a move that provoked strong criticism from Algiers.

The diplomatic thaw began last year after Algeria reinstated a friendship treaty it had suspended over the same issue, signaling a willingness to re‑engage. Sanchez’s visit is expected to focus on restoring bilateral cooperation and addressing lingering tensions stemming from the Western Sahara row, with both governments indicating a desire to move beyond the dispute toward broader collaboration.