The war waged by the United States and Israel against Iran has upended global oil and gas markets, triggering the Strait of Hormuz shutdown—through which a quarter of petroleum products flow—and halting several Gulf production facilities, the world’s top suppliers. This acute crisis has driven oil prices beyond $100 per barrel and propelled gas costs to record highs unseen since the Ukraine conflict and COVID-19 pandemic.
The resulting energy crunch alarms Europe’s industrial powerhouses, major consumers all. This has spotlighted the closest supplier to the continent: Algeria, now a pivotal player amid the geopolitical strain. Its steady supplies, robust output streams, and dual Mediterranean pipelines to Italy and Spain have cemented its strategic edge in the gas trade.
Energy diplomacy now dominates Europe’s fresh challenges. Algiers faces renewed calls to buffer against future shocks that could cripple northern economies. Italy moved first: Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni kicks off an official visit to Algeria on March 28 to discuss gas volumes and ramping up TransMed flows. Indeed, Algeria has covered a third of Italy’s gas needs for over two years.
In the scramble for reliable energy access, reports point to imminent trips by Spain’s prime minister and even Portugal’s to Algiers.
This unusual dynamic likely spurred former French minister Ségolène Royal to speak out, slamming Paris’s diplomacy—especially President Emmanuel Macron’s handling of ties with Algeria.
In a message posted this past Friday on her X account, the France-Algeria Association president argued that “global turmoil once again proves this truth: getting along with neighbors is the foundation of peace and prosperity.” She called the rift with gas-rich neighbors like Algeria “absurd,” saying it burdens France’s economy while peers like Italy secure Algerian supplies.
Royal warned against ongoing “insults” toward Algeria from French political figures, deeming Macron’s diplomatic freeze “without valid grounds.”
Analysts see her as underscoring how strains with Algiers will hammer France’s economy, hitting consumers hardest amid soaring energy bills. Some French politicians believe Paris has ceded ground with its North African policy toward a nation whose energy clout is surging as a dependable supplier. Their views echo Royal’s persistent push for neighborly relations via steady dialogue, pragmatic flexibility, openness, and a future-focused approach with Algeria