As regional tensions rise and Algeria faces increasing isolation both regionally and internationally, the upcoming visit of Oman\u2019s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq to Algiers on Sunday takes on a significance that extends far beyond protocol. While framed as a bilateral engagement to boost cooperation, the visit is shadowed by Muscat\u2019s clear and consistent support for Morocco\u2019s sovereignty over its southern provinces\u2014a position that Algiers finds politically uncomfortable.<\/p>\n
Invited by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, the Sultan\u2019s visit marks Algeria\u2019s latest attempt to re-engage with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, following years of lukewarm or tense relations. Facing diplomatic turbulence with both Gulf and Western partners, Algeria now sees Oman as a potential gateway to reinvigorate ties and diversify its alliances.<\/p>\n
Yet this outreach collides with a fundamental obstacle: the unwavering stance of Gulf countries\u2014including Oman\u2014on the Moroccan Sahara. Could Algiers be banking on Omani discretion in exchange for future strategic gains? Or will Oman\u2019s consistent foreign policy override any Algerian expectations?<\/p>\n
Though Algerian officials are unlikely to publicly raise the issue of the Moroccan Sahara during the Sultan’s visit, the topic lingers in the background. Oman, like its GCC peers, has voiced clear support for Morocco\u2019s territorial integrity and the autonomy plan proposed by Rabat as the only serious and credible basis for resolving the long-standing dispute.<\/p>\n
This begs the question: Historically, Algeria\u2019s ties with the Gulf have swung between rapprochement and estrangement, shaped by divergent positions on major regional files. These include the Moroccan Sahara, the Libyan conflict, normalization with Israel, and broader geopolitical rivalries.<\/p>\n Notably, the UAE was the first to open a consulate in Laayoune, Southern Morocco, sparking criticism from Algiers, which continues to back the Polisario Front. Algeria also opposed the Abraham Accords signed by the UAE and Bahrain with Israel and condemned Morocco\u2019s decision to normalize ties with Tel Aviv.<\/p>\n These moves have deepened the rift and underlined Algeria\u2019s growing diplomatic disconnect within the Arab world.<\/p>\n Unlike some actors who oscillate between neutrality and alliance, Oman has demonstrated consistency in its support for Morocco\u2019s territorial claims. The Sultanate publicly endorsed the Green March in 1975 and has since reiterated its backing for the autonomy initiative as a realistic solution.<\/p>\n Oman has also lauded Morocco\u2019s leadership under King Mohammed VI, particularly its contribution to African stability and peace, a sentiment reflected in joint statements and official visits.<\/p>\n Algeria hopes to leverage Oman\u2019s neutrality and diplomatic pragmatism to re-enter Gulf diplomatic circuits. But can such outreach succeed without addressing the foundational disagreements, especially on the Sahara?<\/p>\n Will the visit spark a new era of pragmatic diplomacy, or merely serve as a symbolic gesture?<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Can Algeria reconcile its regional positions with those of Gulf states, or will ideological rigidity continue to limit its reach?<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n While the Sultan’s trip may not yield immediate policy shifts, its implications are clear: Ultimately, the visit is more than ceremonial; it is a litmus test for Algeria\u2019s willingness to engage with a rapidly evolving regional order, one in which the Moroccan Sahara is no longer up for debate.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" As regional tensions rise and Algeria faces increasing isolation both regionally and internationally, the upcoming visit of Oman\u2019s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq to Algiers on Sunday takes on a significance that extends far beyond protocol. While framed as a bilateral engagement to boost cooperation, the visit is shadowed by Muscat\u2019s clear and consistent support for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2804,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[39,41,76],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-2803","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-africa","8":"category-middle-east","9":"category-the-maghreb"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/diplomatique.ma\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2803","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/diplomatique.ma\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/diplomatique.ma\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/diplomatique.ma\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/diplomatique.ma\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2803"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/diplomatique.ma\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2803\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2805,"href":"https:\/\/diplomatique.ma\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2803\/revisions\/2805"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/diplomatique.ma\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2804"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/diplomatique.ma\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2803"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/diplomatique.ma\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2803"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/diplomatique.ma\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2803"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Can Algeria truly sideline the Sahara issue in its Gulf diplomacy, or is it an unavoidable test of sincerity and alignment?<\/strong><\/p>\nA Fragile Gulf-Algeria Relationship<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Oman\u2019s Consistent Position: Historical and Strategic<\/strong><\/h4>\n
A Visit Under the Lens of Strategic Realignment<\/strong><\/h4>\n
\n
Conclusion: A Carefully Calculated Visit, but to What End?<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Gulf states, including Oman, will not compromise on their recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara. For Algeria, this is a reality check\u2014either adapt diplomatically or remain on the fringes of Arab consensus.<\/p>\n