Algeria–Turkey relations

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Algero–Turkish relations
Map indicating locations of Algeria and Turkey

Algeria
Turkey

Algeria has an embassy in Ankara, and a general consulate in Istanbul. Turkey has an embassy in Algiers. Both countries are full members of the Union for the Mediterranean.

History[]

Up from 16th century until 1830, northern Algeria was part of the Ottoman Empire, then known as Ottoman Algeria. Algers was one of the eyalets and enjoyed a significant degree of political autonomy.

In 2017, one of the symbols for the 500-year old friendship between Turkey and Algeria, the Ketchaoua Mosque in Algiers, was restored with Turkish funds. Restoration was one of the projects related to "Friendship and Cooperation Agreement" signed during Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's visit to Algeria in 2006.[1][2]

History has been in the core of both sides officials' discourse regarding the Algeria–Turkey relations. The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs describes it as: "Turkey and Algeria share common history as well as deep-rooted cultural and brotherly ties."[3] In order to consolidate relations between the two countries, a cultural and historical symposium was organized in 2017. During the meeting, Algerian Minister of Culture Azzedine Mihoubi said "We need to increase the number of such activities on our common history and look more into our history belonging to the Ottoman period".

Modern relations[]

Turkey first voted unfavorable (1955) and then abstained (1958) in the voting on Algeria's independence at the UN. The main reason to that, was Turkey's aim to get closer with France and favoring Algerian Independence would negatively affect France–Turkey relations. However, this decision of Turkish officials was later critiqued as propensity for shorttermism [4] and damaged biliteral relations. First step to restore the situation was taken by then Prime Minister of Turkey Turgut Özal. He visited Algeria in 1985 and explicitly apologized for Turkey's unfavorable voting. Following year, Algerian Prime Minister Abdelhamid Brahimi paid a visit (first official Algerian visit to Turkey) and signed an oil trade deal with Turkey. In 1999, Turkish President Süleyman Demirel stated that negative connotations of Turkey's abstaining vote in 1958 are totally erased.[5] Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika paid a visit to Turkey in 2005. Mutual visits have been a turning point to strengthen bilateral relations as well as reviving friendship between the countries."[6]

Algeria is a partner for Turkey with increasing importance in Africa and considered to be an important partner in the Islamic world and Africa for Turkey. Meanwhile Algeria is a close partner of Iran. In fact, Algeria was one of the countries that abstained from voting on a 2012 UN draft resolution condemning human rights violations by the Assad regime which is supported by Iran. Iranian officials have also previously underlined that Iran and Algeria have the capacity to create a new world order. Aware of this situation, Turkey seems determined not to leave its potential African partners in the hands of rival regional and global powers.[7] Therefore, In 2013, Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan paid a visit to Algeria and met Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika in Algiers. Increasing cooperations, both economic, political and security, were placed.[8][9]

Economy[]

"We see Algeria as an island of political and economic stability in the region. Our first trading partner in Africa is Algeria." said Turkish President Erdoğan[10] and he added:"Therefore, around one thousand Turkish firms are in Algeria carrying on businesses with an investment volume of 3.5 billion dollars."[11] Algeria is Turkey's 23rd largest export market and 25th largest supplier of goods imports with a total trade volume of 4.5 billion while [12] Turkey is Algeria's 6th biggest economic partner.[13] Algeria's most exported good to Turkey is oil hydrocarbons and natural gas. Algeria imports construction material the most from Turkey.[14] Algeria is the 4th biggest natural gas supplier of Turkey with %8 percent of the share.[15]

Security[]

In 2003, Turkish-Algerian ministers signed a security memo against drug, human trafficking and organized crimes. Both sides described terrorism as a big problem and discussed uniting struggles against such groups and organizations.[16] By the October of the same year, a military cooperation agreement was framed. The agreement included clauses such as technology transfer, common military drills and exchange of military information.[17] Turkey, as a NATO member, plays a significant role on the thawing relations between the group and Algeria, due to the importance of Algeria for the regional security of Africa and MENA.[18] Turkey is also becoming an increasingly important weapon exporter to Algeria and military cooperation between the two countries is growing as well, given the status of Algerian People's National Armed Forces as one of the most well-trained, battle-hardened and professional Arab militaries.[citation needed]

State visits[]

From Algeria to Turkey:

Dates Head of State Ref.
April 1986 Prime Minister Abdelhamid Brahimi
February 2–4, 2005 President Abdelaziz Bouteflika

From Turkey to Algeria:

Dates Head of State Ref.
February 4–6, 1985 Prime Minister Turgut Özal
January 17–20, 1988 President Kenan Evren
January 25–26, 1999 President Süleyman Demirel
May 22–23, 2006 Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
June 4–5, 2013 Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
November 19–20, 2014 President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
February 26–27, 2018 President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan

Country comparison[]

Algeria Algeria Turkey Turkey
Population 43,600,000 83,154,997
Area 2,381,741 km2 (919,595 sq mi) 783,356 km2 (302,455 sq mi)
Population Density 71/km2 (183.9/sq mi) 17.7/km2 (45.8/sq mi)
Capital Algiers Ankara
Largest City Algiers – 3,915,811 Istanbul – 15,519,267
Official language Arabic, Berber Turkish
Main religions 99% Islam, 1% others 97.6% Islam, 1.1% Judaism, 0.3% Christianity
Ethnic groups 99% Arab-Berber, 1% others 75% Turkish, 20% Kurdish, 5% Others
Human Development Index (HDI) 0.759 (high) — 82nd 0.806 (very high) — 59th
GDP (PPP) $684.649 billion ($15,765 per capita) $2.464 trillion ($29,326 per capita)

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Turkey restores symbolic mosque listed as UNESCO heritage site in Algeria". Daily Sabah. 16 December 2017.
  2. ^ "Uluslararası Osmanlı'dan Günümüze Türkiye-Cezayir İlişkileri Sempozyumu, Oturum Kitapçığı 11-12 Mart 2017, Cezayir". Association of Researchers on Africa. 7 March 2017.
  3. ^ "Relations between Turkey–Algeria". Republic of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Archived from the original on 2018-11-20. Retrieved 2018-04-13.
  4. ^ "Highlights from Turkish Islamist press". BBC Worldwide Limited. 12 October 2006. ProQuest 459368737.
  5. ^ "42 yıl sonra açıklanan tarihi gerçek : Türkiye Cezayir'e silah vermiş". Hürriyet. 28 January 1999.
  6. ^ "Turkey ready to support ties with Algerian universities". BBC Worldwide Limited. 6 June 2013. ProQuest 1365165766.
  7. ^ Sinem Cengiz (2 March 2018). "Will Erdogan's 'walk with Africa' policy prove successful?". Arab News.
  8. ^ Ismail Numan Telci (31 May 2014). "Why is Algeria important for Turkey?". Al Jazeera.
  9. ^ "Bouteflika okays Turkish development schemes in Algeria". Aa.com.tr. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  10. ^ "Türkiye ile Cezayir arasında 1 milyar dolarlık anlaşma". Basın İlan Kurumu. 28 February 2018. Archived from the original on 2 May 2019. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  11. ^ "CUMHURBAŞKANI: "CEZAYİR'E GÜVENİYORUZ"". Directorate General of Press and Information. 26 February 2018. Archived from the original on 13 April 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  12. ^ "Algeria". Republic of Turkey Ministry of Economy. July 2013. Archived from the original on 2018-04-14. Retrieved 2018-04-13.
  13. ^ "Algeria exports, imports and trade balance By Country 2015". World Integrated Trade Solution. 2015.
  14. ^ "Cezayir". Republic of Turkey Ministry of Economy. 2017.
  15. ^ "Ham Petrol ve Doğalgaz Sektör Raporu" (PDF). Republic of Turkey Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources. May 2015.
  16. ^ "Turkish, Algerian ministers discuss fight against terror, crime, sign security memo". BBC Worldwide Limited. 5 September 2003. ProQuest 459488786.
  17. ^ "Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Hükümeti ile Cezayir Demokratik Halk Cumhuriyeti Hükümeti Arasında Askeri İşbirliği (Çerçeve) Anlaşması". Grand National Assembly of Turkey. 5 May 2005.
  18. ^ Atef Kadadra (8 July 2012). "Algeria's Relationship With NATO Begins to Thaw After Long Chill". Al-Monitor.

External links[]


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