The Army General Said Chanegriha hosted the American Admiral George Wikoff, commander of NATO’s Joint Forces, this Wednesday. During this meeting, the Chief of Staff of the National People’s Army and Deputy Minister for National Defense reasserted Algeria’s stance and articulated its defense doctrine.
“I wish to emphasize that Algeria, within its determined framework to solidify cooperative ties with various nations, remains deeply devoted to the concept of non-alignment, its independence, and its sovereign decision-making,” Said Chanegriha stated to Admiral Wikoff, who also commands US Naval Forces Europe and Africa.
According to a briefing from the Ministry of National Defense, the military chief added that because of these “sacred values, which we expect our associates to appreciate genuinely and respect,” Algeria has “endured, from 1830 until 1962, the loss of over five million six hundred thirty thousand martyrs, including one and a half million between 1954 and 1962.”
In the same speech, Said Chanegriha highlighted the military connection between Algiers and Washington, which “enjoys a fresh momentum, particularly following the signing of the military cooperation memorandum of understanding in January 2025.” This progression, he noted, aligns “perfectly with the mutual ambition of both nations to forge a strategic alliance, built on shared respect and designed to advance common benefits.”
“This active trend has been materialized through high-ranking delegation exchanges, such as the recent trip of the AFRICOM chief to Algeria, which offered an occasion to exchange perspectives on shared matters and helped strengthen communication links regarding defense and strategic affairs,” the military chief further detailed.
In this context, it is worth noting that the head of United States Africa Command, General Dagvin Anderson, conducted a visit to Algeria last April, exploring the status of bilateral military ties. His discussions with Chief of Staff Said Chanegriha allowed for an exchange of assessments regarding several issues of mutual focus, specifically regional stability and counter-terrorism measures.
During that event, Army General Chanegriha guaranteed that the visit marked a fresh chapter in expanding bilateral collaboration, noting that both states are working to broaden their strategic discourse and elevate military coordination.
The head of the Algerian military also affirmed that Algiers continues, under a mandate from the African Union, its initiatives to bolster the continental framework aimed at pooling resources to wipe out terrorism and violent extremism across all sectors.