Sarkozy Warns Macron: Morocco Relations at Risk, Cautions Against Algeria Pivot

The former French president is concerned about the rapprochement efforts with Algeria led by his successor Emmanuel Macron, noting that they contribute to the deterioration of relations with Morocco. "Let’s not try to build an artificial friendship with Algerian leaders who systematically use France as a scapegoat to mask their own shortcomings and their deficit of legitimacy," Nicolas Sarkozy advised on Wednesday in an interview with Le Figaro.

And he added: "This tropism is distancing us from Morocco. We risk losing everything. We won’t gain the trust of Algeria, and we’re losing that of Morocco." Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune is expected to make a state visit to France in the spring. A trip that is "still maintained," he confirmed on August 6 during an intervention on Algerian television. "A state visit has conditions and must lead to results. It’s not a tourist visit," he said.