Media: Macron’s Western Sahara stance pushes Algeria further into Russia’s arms

French President Emmanuel Macron’s statements on Western Sahara have triggered a sharp deterioration in Franco-Algerian relations, leading to an economic fallout that is pushing Algeria closer to Russia.

The latest blow comes in the form of a near-total ban on French agricultural imports, as Algiers increasingly turns to Moscow for trade and political alignment, Caliber.Az reports via French media.

France, once Algeria’s leading food supplier, has seen its exports to the North African country plummet. In 2022, France was still Algeria’s second-largest food supplier, exporting €1.3 billion worth of goods, including cereals, live cattle, and dairy products. By 2023, exports were halved, and in 2024, they had all but collapsed. Experts predict that by 2025, French exports to Algeria could drop to near zero.

The most drastic decline has been in wheat exports. France, which supplied 80–90% of Algeria’s grain needs in 2018, is now barely present in the market. Meanwhile, Russia has stepped in, now supplying 90% of Algeria’s wheat imports, despite lower quality standards. French grain traders have found themselves locked out of deals, with calls unanswered and orders cancelled without explanation.

By Vugar Khalilov