Los esfuerzos de Argelia para influir en los intereses exteriores de Marruecos

Algeria is spending large sums of money with the aim of influencing Morocco's interests in parts of Africa and even in the United States, according to Jeune Afrique. The media outlet claims that Algiers has earmarked $3 million to finance activities aimed at "confronting" Rabat's foreign policy through lobby groups and the media.

Likewise, with the aim of interfering in Moroccan interests, Algeria has dedicated a significant budget to "financing travel, gifts, scholarships", as well as to organising forums and conferences on "Algiers' role in the fight against terrorism", according to Maghreb Intelligence.

These conferences are aimed at the defence of the Polisario Front and at "strengthening this vision among the African elite". There was also a plan to create an Algerian fund for West Africa, a region relevant to both Morocco and Algeria. 

But these efforts to interfere in Moroccan interests go back a long way. The former president Abdelaziz Bouteflika had already focused on engaging the services of different public relations firms in Washington for this purpose.

The plan to influence the US to counter Moroccan foreign policy continues today. Between 2014 and 2022, several reports have revealed that the Algerian government has spent close to $2.3 million on Foley Hoag LLP - a Boston-based firm specialising in international arbitration - and Keene Consulting International. Foley Hoag LLP got the lion's share of the profits with a total of $420,000, including $210,000 between October 2019 and March 2021.  

In addition to investing in companies, it has also sought to influence the country politically. In this regard, it has the backing of US representatives such as James Inhofe, an advocate of Saharan independence who has visited Algeria and requested that the African Lion military exercises be held in a country other than Morocco. However, this request has been rejected as Washington has already confirmed that the exercises will be held in Morocco again next year.

Algiers is - unsuccessfully - pressuring the United States to move away from Morocco militarily. According to documents presented by the Department of Justice, during the first half of 2020, Algerian officials had 23 meetings with US counterparts from the State Department and members of Congress, including Joseph Kennedy III (Massachusetts), Zelinski Graham (South Carolina), Pete Maccrom (Minnesota), Hal Rogers (Kentucky) and Patrick Leahy (Vermont). 

As Jeune Afrique points out, during these meetings, "US-Algerian relations and respect for human rights and the right to self-determination" were discussed. It also points out that this information is known thanks to the transparency law that obliges government agencies to report on their meetings with foreign agents.

Despite Algeria's efforts, Morocco remains one of the United States' main and most important allies in Africa. This is evidenced by the new defence budget presented by Joe Biden's administration, which benefits the Kingdom. Likewise, Washington continues to strongly support Moroccan sovereignty in the Sahara.