Spain-Algeria Friendship Treaty Suspended Amid Western Sahara Dispute

Madrid "regrets" this decision to suspend "the Treaty of Friendship, Good Neighborliness and Cooperation with Spain" which, according to Tebboune, is the consequence of the change in position taken by Spain concerning the Sahara.

"The Spanish Government reaffirms its full commitment to the content of the Treaty and the principles that underlie it, reflected in its preamble and in particular the ’strict respect for the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and the principles of international law as fundamental elements for the maintenance of peace, security and justice in the international community, in particular the principles of the sovereign equality of States, non-interference in internal affairs and respect for the inalienable right of peoples to self-determination’," the Spanish government said.

Despite the decision taken by President Tebboune, Spain says it remains faithful to its commitments and relations between the two countries. "The Spanish Government considers Algeria to be a neighboring and friendly country and reiterates its full availability to continue to maintain and develop the privileged relations of cooperation between the two countries, for the benefit of the two peoples," the same source continued.

In a statement published on Wednesday, the Algerian presidency announced the "immediate suspension of the Treaty of Friendship, Good Neighborliness and Cooperation concluded on October 8, 2002 with Spain". Algeria is outraged by this decision, against "an unjustifiable turnaround" by Madrid concerning the Sahara issue.