On Thursday, a delegation of senior US government officials arrived in Algiers, on a two-day visit. They are expected to discuss bilateral relations, in addition to enhancing coordination on several regional issues, especially the situation in Libya, the Sahel region, and Western Sahara.
Leading the delegation are US Secretary of the Air Force, Barbara Barrett, Assistant Secretary of State for the Near East David Schenker, and General Jeffrey Harrigian, Commander of the US Air Force in Europe, and Africa.
The American delegation stressed the importance of greater international diplomatic efforts for a comprehensive political solution, and to maintain the ceasefire in Libya.
“We consider Algeria a close partner, and this is a serious relationship, given the pioneering role that it has shown in solving a number of regional issues, especially in Libya,” Barrett said.
This is the first trip by US officials to North Africa since President Donald Trump’s recognition of the Western Sahara as part of Morocco, despite Algerian protests against the move. Algiers believes this recognition is a violation of United Nations’ resolutions and threatens regional security.
Libya has been split since 2014 between two rival administrations in the east and west with parallel institutions: the eastern-based Libyan Parliament and the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA).