The reality is now stark: Algeria’s regional hegemony is not just fading; it is collapsing. Domestically and regionally, the so-called “Algerian Pillar of North African security” now stands on hollow ground. By backing it, the U.S. is signaling that the era of Algerian veto power over regional progress is over. The administration of Donald Trump – with figures such as Massad Boulos playing a central role – now treats Algerian security cooperation as a technical baseline, no longer as a political bargaining chip. Washington no longer accepts that Algerian security capabilities be used to preserve a status quo that ultimately serves Russian or Iranian interests in North Africa.

Source: The North Africa Journal February 22, 2026 16:41 UTC