• France and Algeria have agreed to restart high-level security cooperation.
• Discussions took place during a visit by French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez.
• Key issues include judicial coordination, police cooperation, and migration matters.
• This agreement aims to improve strained diplomatic relations between the two nations.
• Algeria's support for the Polisario Front complicates ties with France, especially regarding Western Sahara.

France and Algeria's leaders announced a revival of security cooperation during a visit by French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez to Algiers on February 17, marking an important step toward improving diplomatic relations. After meeting with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, Nunez stated that both countries agreed to "reactivate a high-level security cooperation mechanism," which covers judicial, police, and intelligence collaboration, as well as migration-related issues, particularly repatriation of Algerian nationals in France. This agreement is viewed as a response to past tensions, particularly after France supported Morocco’s claim to Western Sahara in 2024, a position opposed by Algeria, according to Le Monde and AA.

Nunez characterized the renewed cooperation as moving towards "normal security relations," indicating an eagerness to address a backlog of issues, including drug trafficking and counterterrorism, which are critical for both nations given Algeria's proximity to conflict zones in Mali and Niger. He expressed gratitude to President Tebboune for facilitating closer collaboration on matters of judicial enforcement and intelligence sharing, an essential step given Algeria's refusal to repatriate its nationals living irregularly in France. This cooperation is expected to be implemented "as soon as possible," as stated by Nunez, highlighting a commitment to a sustained and high-level dialogue, according to Africanews and AA.

The visit by Nunez, the first by a French interior minister in months, follows a cooling of relations after the prior detention of an Algerian diplomat in France, which sparked diplomatic tensions. While this new agreement signifies a thaw, it stops short of full normalization. Observers suggest the outcomes of cooperation on migration and judicial matters will significantly influence the future of Algeria-France relations. The atmosphere remains charged as the two countries navigate complex historical and political issues, according to Le Monde, Africanews, and AA.