Algeria Rejects Macron’s Call for Tougher France Policy

President Emmanuel Macron has called for a tougher stance against Algeria amid escalating diplomatic tensions, including the suspension of a 2013 agreement that granted visa exemptions to Algerian officials and diplomats. Macron's letter to Prime Minister Francois Bayrou emphasized the need for France to show strength and respect, linking this to demands on Algeria amid deteriorating bilateral relations. Algeria has pushed back strongly, accusing France of trying to shift all blame onto them and of seeking to exonerate itself from historical responsibilities, particularly concerning the legacies of the Algerian War of Independence. Key points of contention include Algeria's imprisonment of French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal and French journalist Christophe Gleizes, as well as Algeria’s failure to cooperate on bilateral agreements and readmission protocols. France also plans to use new immigration law provisions to refuse various visas to Algerian passport holders and intends to work with EU partners to restrict Algerian diplomats' travel through third countries. These moves underscore a significant breakdown in cooperation, with Macron describing Algeria’s actions as a deliberate refusal to engage constructively with France.