PRF John Moverley OBE
In the high-stakes world of geopolitics, Algeria has stepped into the role of the wolf — no longer the underdog, but the assertive player moving with confidence and clarity. Under the leadership of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and with seasoned diplomat Ahmed Attaf directing foreign policy, Algeria is rewriting the rules of engagement.
Meanwhile, France, once Algeria’s colonial master and long-time influencer, appears lost and confused. The French political class simply does not know how to deal with this new Algeria. The toolbox that once included economic pressure, diplomatic gestures, and migration deals is now empty. France must come to terms with a painful truth: it holds zero leverage over Algeria today.
This is not a sudden shift — it is the result of years of recalibration. Algeria has harnessed the power of its natural resources, especially gas and oil, to fortify its economy. It has diversified its diplomatic relations, building strong ties with China, Russia, the Gulf States, Turkey, and now increasingly India. It has done so deliberately, seeking new allies and refusing to be tethered to the influence of any single power bloc.
France, by contrast, has failed to evolve its approach. It still views Algeria through the outdated prism of post-colonial influence. But the era of quiet submission is long gone. Tebboune’s foreign policy is anchored in sovereignty, economic dignity, and geopolitical neutrality. With Ahmed Attaf at the helm of foreign affairs, Algeria speaks a language of strategic realism — one that demands respect and reciprocity.
What France has yet to accept is that Algeria no longer needs it — not for trade, not for legitimacy, and certainly not for political direction. With a growing domestic food industry, energy independence, and a strategic location bridging Europe and Africa, Algeria is setting its own pace.
It is now Paris that must ask: how do we deal with a partner we can no longer control?
Tebboune and Attaf are not looking for conflict — they are simply defending the interests of the Algerian people and the pride of the Algerian nation. In doing so, they are earning admiration at home and forcing the world, especially France, to look at Algeria with fresh eyes.
The wolf of geopolitics has spoken — and it’s no longer answering to the old call from the Elysée Palace.
