Algeria Terminates Air Pact with UAE as President Tebboune Labels Gulf Nation a “Minor State”
ALGIERS – Tensions between Algeria and the United Arab Emirates have reached a boiling point this weekend, with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune delivering a scathing public rebuke of the Gulf nation, dismissing it as a “minor state” and formally moving to sever air transport links.
In a fiery address that has deepened the diplomatic rift between the two Arab nations, President Tebboune expressed profound remorse over Algeria’s relationship with Abu Dhabi. “We hope not to regret the day we knew the UAE,” Tebboune declared, signaling a potential irreversible breakdown in bilateral ties.
The President’s comments were accompanied by serious allegations of political meddling. Tebboune accused the UAE of “attempting to interfere in the elections,” a charge that adds a new layer of volatility to a relationship already strained by disagreements over regional security and foreign policy.
Escalation to Action
The verbal offensive coincided with decisive diplomatic action. On Saturday, Algerian state media confirmed that the government has initiated the formal process to terminate the air services agreement with the UAE. The pact, originally signed in Abu Dhabi in May 2013 and ratified in 2014, is being cancelled under “Article 22,” which requires formal notification through diplomatic channels.
The Algerian Ministry of Transport has reportedly notified the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) of the decision, a move that could disrupt travel, tourism, and cargo flows between the two countries.
“Minor State” Remarks
President Tebboune’s characterization of the UAE as a “minor state” reflects a hardening of Algiers’ stance. The remark is seen by analysts as a response to what Algeria perceives as the UAE’s encroaching influence in the Maghreb and Sahel regions. Algerian officials have privately and publicly complained about Abu Dhabi’s growing alignment with Morocco—particularly regarding the Western Sahara dispute—and its cooperation with Israel on security matters.
The “minor state” label, combined with the “regret” statement, marks a departure from standard diplomatic decorum, suggesting that Algiers is no longer interested in maintaining a façade of “brotherly relations” with Abu Dhabi.
Regional Fallout
The accusations of election interference are particularly sensitive. While specific details of the alleged meddling were not elaborated upon in the immediate address, the claim aligns with a broader narrative in Algiers that accuses external powers of trying to destabilize the country’s internal politics.
As of Sunday, the United Arab Emirates has not issued an official response to the comments or the cancellation of the air agreement. Emirati officials have previously exercised what they term “strategic restraint” in the face of similar rhetoric, often choosing not to engage in public exchanges of insults.
The termination of the air pact is expected to have immediate commercial implications, forcing carriers to adjust routes and potentially complicating travel for thousands of passengers. It remains to be seen if this diplomatic rupture will extend to other economic or political agreements in the coming weeks.
* jpost.com
* aa.com.tr
* businessinsider.com
* moroccoworldnews.com
* infonasional.com
* ahram.org.eg
