Algeria has decided to close its airspace to all Moroccan civil and military aircraft as well as to aircrafts registered in Morocco. What really triggered such an immature decision?
The Algeria decision is based on three factors:
-Factor 1: The internal Pressure:
With oil price fluctuations during the last 5 years, Algeria has been facing a huge deficit in its public treasury and not being able to meet its social and economic budgets and growth forecast. The high unemployment rate, basic food shortages are putting the pressure on the Algeria government which is trying to divert the internal populations attention on key country’s concerns. Instead of focusing on the Algerians key priorities, the government decided and continues to spend the oil and gas money on military equipment and promoting and internal countries insecurity with a war that will never take place.
-Factor 2: Morocco Economy and Political Power:
Morocco is leading Africa investment by draining all major Foreign Direct Investment in all key industrial sectors. The Morocco doing business ranking has increased during the last 10 years under the strategy of HM King Mohammed VI by facilitating and protecting FDIs. The Morocco reintegration to the Africa Union, its support and friendship with majority of African countries attracted so much jealousy from a struggling Algeria that obviously has more resources potentials with incompetent leaders. The recent Morocco oil and gas discoveries spreads the tension of fear as it will boost the Morocco economic and as political regional influencer.
-Factor 3: The Morocco-USA-Israel strong relations:
The strong relationship between Morocco USA and Israel is one of the major factors leading to Algeria recent reaction. It’s clear that Morocco and USA relationship is deep and strong. On December 20, 1777, the Kingdom of Morocco became the first country in the world to recognize United States independence, only a year and a half after the U.S. Declaration of Independence was issued. While Morocco did not until 2020 recognize Israel, Israeli-Moroccan relations between the State of Israel and the Kingdom of Morocco are so ancient and empowered by Moroccan Jews that lived in Morocco for many centuries. Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Morocco’s sovereignty over the contested territory of the Western Sahara was a game changer in the decades-long conflict. A conflict triggered and financed by Algeria in a desperate hope to divide one of the old monarchies in the world that once was the friend that helped Algeria to become today’s independent nation.
By: J. JIHAZI