China Walks Delicate Line on Western Sahara Dispute

 Modern Diplomacy published on18 July 2025 an analysis titled "The Chinese Stance on the Moroccan Sahara Shifts from Neutrality to Subtle Backing of Sovereignty" by Jamal Laadam.

As China weighs its relations with Morocco and Algeria, its approach to the Moroccan Sahara issue is marked by "thought-out neutrality," balancing core principles of Chinese foreign policy with increasing strategic interests in Morocco.

Algeria Scrubs Huge Chinese Port Project

Yabiladi.com posted on 9 June 2025 an article titled "Algeria Withdraws Major Port Project from China, Is the Sahara Question the Reason?" by Mohammed Jaabouk. 

Algeria has pulled out of a multi-billion project first announced in 2015 for China to finance, build, manage, and partially own the huge El Hamdania port.  It was initially launched as a rival to Morocco's Tanger-Med port.  The article suggests China's position on the controversial Western Sahara issue may have something to do with the cancellation.

Comment:  This project has been in doubt for years and likely has more to do with Algeria's ability to pay for the project and its economic viability.  

China Increases Manufacturing in Morocco to Take Advantage of Free Trade Agreements

 The New York Times published on 7 May 2025 an article titled "Why China Is Investing So Much Money in Moroccan Factories" by Patricia Cohen. 

China has been investing in a major way in the electric vehicle and battery production sector in Morocco.  The reason is simple.  Morocco has a free trade agreement with the EU, and this is a way to avoid high tariffs.  Morocco also has a free trade agreement with the United States, but the Trump administration has just placed a 10 percent tariff on goods from Morocco.  Nevertheless, this is a lower tariff than will likely be the case with most countries.  

Morocco Acquires China's Advanced Drones

 Global Defense News published on 5 March 2025 an article titled "Morocco Enhances Military Capabilities with Chinese TB-001 Aerial Drone Acquisition."

Morocco has acquired the TB-001 reconnaissance and attack drone, also known as the Twin-Tailed Scorpion, which features a dual-engine, twin-tail configuration, capable of carrying up to 1,200 kilograms of munitions.  This is a strategic move to bolster Morocco's defense posture as it faces regional security challenges.  Morocco is likely to continue expanding its defense ties with China.  

Africa and the Trump Administration: Round Two

 The Atlantic Council published on 13 December 2024 a commentary titled "What Trump's Next Presidency Will Mean for Africa" by Rama Yade.

This analysis is less about what the Trump administration will do in Africa in a second term than what it did or did not do in the first term.  The author argues, however, that Africa has more geopolitical interest for the United States today than it did during Trump's first term.  

China's Relations with North African Countries

 The South China Morning Post published on 29 November 2024 an article titled "What Xi's Flying Visit to Morocco Means for China's EV Industry" by Jevans Nyabiage.  

As China ramps up its commercial ties with Morocco, especially electric vehicle manufacturing, it is also working to improve relations with increasingly authoritarian Tunisia and retain close ties with Algeria.  If China becomes too close to Morocco, disagreement with Algeria over the Western Sahara could pose a challenge for Beijing's relations with Algiers.  

Russia Hosts Forum for Africans in Sochi

 Dallas, Texas-based Atlas News published on 12 November 2024 an article titled "Russia-Africa Forum Aims To Redefine Global Power Dynamics" by Bianca Bridger.  

The first Russia-Africa Partnership Forum took place on 9-10 November in Sochi.  It attracted representatives from 54 countries including 40 at the ministerial level.  The participants produced a resolution that challenges "the international hegemonic order." Russian officials said the Forum "seeks to further entrench Russia's presence in the African continent."

Morocco-China Relations

 The ChinaMed Project published on 26 October 2023 a commentary titled "Morocco Looks at Its Relations with China: Between the Earthquake and the Diplomatic Celebrations" by Mariateresa Natuzzi and Lea Gebuhrer.

Morocco is actively seeking to strengthen its ties with China but recognizes the continued importance of the European market for its economy.  Since 2001, Chinese exports to Morocco have risen sharply while Moroccan exports to China have risen only modestly, resulting in huge trade deficits for Morocco.  

Algeria Looks to China for Support

 World Politics Review published on 14 August 2023 a commentary titled "Algeria's Renewed Push for Global Engagement Centers on China" by Francisco Serrano.  

Algeria is trying to become less isolated and raise its international standing by developing closer ties with China.  Aligning with China helps accomplish its goals of countering the growing influence of neighbor Morocco, strengthening its position among rising powers, and attracting more investment to diversify its economy.  

China-Algeria Ties

 The Diplomat published on 22 July 2023 a commentary titled "President Abdelmadjid Tebboune's Visit Signals Tighter China-Algeria Ties" by Ladislav Charouz, Oxford University.  

Russia has traditionally been the primary supplier of arms to Algeria, but the war in Ukraine has resulted in a shortage of arms for export.  Algeria has recently been increasing its purchase of advanced weapons from China.  Algerian President Tebboune may have pursued this issue on his just completed visit to China.  

Is Algeria Rebalancing Its Relations Among Russia, China, and the West?

 The Fikra Forum published on 9 August 2022 an analysis titled "Algeria's Foreign Policy: Facing a Crossroads" by Vasilis Petropoulos, Berghof Foundation.  

Algeria has been drawn to Russia and China in recent years for a variety of reasons but its growing economic ties with France, Spain, and Italy and Putin's invasion of Ukraine are causing a reassessment in favor of non-alignment.  

China and Algeria: Political and Military Relations

 Global Policy published on 27 July 2022 an analysis titled "Algeria and China: Shifts in Political and Military Relations" by Yahia H. Zoubir.  

The author looks at China's political and military relations with Algeria through role theory that incorporates the notion of hedging.  He concludes that though each partner has fulfilled the other's  expectations, China has not fully done so regarding the conflict in Western Sahara without, however, resulting in distrust or tensions between the two.  

Impact of Putin's War on North Africa and Middle East

 The International Crisis Group published on 14 April 2022 a review titled "The Impact of Russia's Invasion of Ukraine in the Middle East and North Africa."

The paper describes the economic and political impacts of Russia's invasion of the Ukraine on the countries of the Middle East and North Africa, including Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Western Sahara, and Tunisia.  

Russia and the Maghreb

 Eurasia Review published on 11 February 2022 an interview titled "Russia-Maghreb: What Future?" Kester Kenn Klomegah interviewed Chtatou Mohamed, International University of Rabat.

Mohamed concluded that the Maghreb is not a fundamental interest for Russia, but rather a source of economic and political opportunities.  For their part, countries in the Maghreb are willing to take advantage of opportunities offered by Russia while remaining politically unaligned.  There may be an emerging Russia-China alliance in the region.  

Secretary Blinken Discusses Ethiopia, Sudan, and Western Sahara

 The US State Department released the transcript of Secretary Antony Blinken's 19 November 2021 interview with the BBC on various African issues.  

The interview covered the US position on Ethiopia, Sudan, Western Sahara, and China in Africa.  

China's Expanding Ties with North Africa

Brookings published in July 2020 an analysis titled "China in the Mediterranean: Implications of Expanding Sino-North Africa Relations" by Adel Abdel Ghafar and Anna L. Jacobs.

The paper looks at China's growing influence in the southern Mediterranean within the context of great power competition, notably Russia's expanding engagement and America's declining influence.  China has expanded relations primarily through growing economic and commercial ties under the framework of Xi Jinping's Belt and Road Initiative. 

Chinese Peacekeeping (English and French)

The Centre for International Policy Studies at the University of Ottawa published in January 2019 a study titled "30 Years of Chinese Peacekeeping" by Christoph Zurcher.

Over the past three decades, China has evolved from a skeptic into a champion of UN peacekeeping. China now has about 2,500 personnel assigned to nine UN peacekeeping missions, including Mali, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Darfur, and Western Sahara. Most of its peacekeeping personnel are in Africa, where most UN peacekeeping operations take place. China also contributes 10 percent of the UN peacekeeping budget, second after the United States at 28 percent.

China emphasizes its commitment to peacekeeping is guided by respect for sovereignty and non-interference; the importance of the primacy of political solutions; and respect for the peacekeeping principles of impartiality, consent of the parties, and use of force only as a last resort.

The author concludes that China should be given credit where it deserves credit and UN peacekeeping is a case in point. That does not mean, however, that the West should ignore the fact that China will increasingly promote its own concepts on peace building, some of which are are odds with Western concepts of democracy building and human rights in peacekeeping missions.

Western Sahara Podcast

China Radio International asked me to join Ayo Johnson, director of Viewpoint Africa in London, on 1 May 2013 in an hour long discussion of the Western Sahara issue.  The program covered the merits of Morocco's claims to the Western Sahara, the viability of an independent Saharan Arab Democratic Republic, the role of Algeria, concerns about human rights, the possible spread of terrorism from the Sahel region to the Western Sahara and the position of the United States and France.