New potential for Algeria and its strategic ambitions in the region worry Paris and Washington
Channel: Tarsana ترسانة
Date: 16/12/2022

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Algeria has more than doubled its defense budget for 2023 from the current year, to more than $22 billion, according to the finance bill approved by parliament.
Algeria ranks 23rd in the world and third in the Arab world, after Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, in terms of military expenditure, according to the American Global Fire Power ranking for 2022, and it is expected to rise to the top 15th in the world in the 2023 ranking after increasing the budget by 120%. And according to our own estimates, the Algerian army now ranks unquestionably as the 2nd power in the Arab World and Africa, after Egypt.
New potentials and strategic ambitions
As for the second part, it is linked to Algeria's change of strategy in the Sahel region, because it can intervene there with logistical support at the request of certain countries, the African Union or the United Nations.
It should be noted that Algeria had added a new article in the constitution, allowing the army to be sent outside the borders, to participate in peacekeeping missions after the approval of the Parliament by the majority of the two third.
As for the third part, it aims, according to the same source, to renew equipment and modernize the army in the light of developments in the Russian-Ukrainian war.
To close the door on repeated attempts to discuss the army budget, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune issued a presidential decree on September 14 banning parliamentary debate on issues related to defense and diplomacy, as they are secrets. of state.
Paris has always expressed its concern about the Algerian armament, and this has manifested itself through the criticisms addressed by the French media and the questions about the objectives of this important expenditure.
The French concerns are correct in my opinion and according to my analysis, and this makes sense for three main considerations
First, the Algerian army has made no secret of its desire to extend its field of action to the Sahel, and a constitutional law has been promulgated to this effect. Let's not forget that France considers this region as part of its political and economic influence and uses it as a theater of its operations.
Second, the Algerian army continues to acquire the latest technologies and systems it can obtain, and strengthens its land, coastal and air defenses against any intrusion, which reduces the relative technological superiority of neighboring European countries.
Third, Algeria has not neglected the formation of a solid naval fleet with coastal defense, submarines, helicopter carriers and a large number of frigates and missile boats. European countries, especially those bordering the Mediterranean, have not forgotten the past maritime glory of Algeria and its fleets which restricted the movements of European navies for centuries.
Paris is not the only one to indirectly express its concerns, the White House does not appreciate this rise in power. The United States recently tried to prevent the sale to Algeria of Pakistani Shahpar observation and attack drones, equipped with Barq laser-guided surface-to-air missiles. These missiles, weighing 60 kg, have a varying range of 8 to 16 km.
Apparently, the White House could not prevent Beijing from very recently supplying CM-302 coastal defense systems according to the NATO nomenclature or YJ-12B "Hawk Attack" in Chinese and which are considered the best in the world and were preferred by Algiers to Russian Bastion-B systems. These anti-ship missiles are 4 times faster than sound and almost impossible to intercept. These Chinese missiles have a range of 1200 km and can destroy even an aircraft carrier within this range. They can track the target through an infra-red seeker or guidance by its millimeter radar, which makes them accurate and difficult to jam.
Here is the testimony of the French deputy, Phillipe Michel-Kleisbauer before the Commission De La Défense, where he indirectly expressed certain concerns by evoking the quality and potential of the Algerian Navy.
You also said it, President... about the navy... there, those whom we had auditioned, told me about a navy of professional quality... uh... which deserves respect, which commands respect and which proves that Algeria has very important military capabilities. Those we interviewed told us. The joint exercises that were carried out between France and Algeria, before certain tensions arose, made it possible to provide feedback, on a much higher level of qualification. And what is happening in the arms race between these two countries which have the tensest relations, namely Morocco and Algeria, still shows a great imbalance. With an Algeria which is a great power and a Morocco which, despite all the efforts that we see, would not arrive where Algeria is today.