Algeria has expressed strong discontent over France’s decision to restrict Algerian diplomatic agents from accessing secure areas at Parisian airports to collect diplomatic bags, accusing Paris of violating international law and threatening retaliatory measures.
In a statement issued on 24 July 2025, the Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticised what it described as a “measure taken in opacity” and “without prior official notification,” claiming the action breached Article 27, paragraph 7 of the Vienna Convention, which guarantees the free delivery of diplomatic pouches.
Algiers accused France of disregarding established diplomatic norms and warned it could invoke “the principle of reciprocity,” including reciprocal restrictions on French diplomatic staff in Algeria. The ministry also signalled the possibility of escalating the matter to the United Nations, framing the airport dispute as a breach warranting multilateral intervention.
The confrontation comes at a time of strained ties between the two countries, with analysts noting that Algeria’s assertive tone appears aimed at both international and domestic audiences. The strongly worded statement, critics argue, reflects a strategy to project strength amid growing domestic pressures, including widespread youth unemployment, public disillusionment, and declining trust in state institutions.
Observers point out that such airport access disputes, while not uncommon in diplomatic relations, are typically handled quietly through direct negotiations between foreign ministries rather than through public denunciations. Algeria’s choice to escalate the matter publicly has been interpreted as a bid to rally nationalist sentiment at home, portraying the government as a staunch defender of sovereignty in the face of perceived foreign slights.
The ministry’s statement offered no explanation for France’s decision, which could stem from security, compliance, or procedural concerns. Instead, it underscored Algeria’s increasingly confrontational diplomatic posture, prioritising rhetoric and public signalling over negotiated resolution.
The standoff adds another point of friction to Algeria-France relations, already marked by recurring disputes over visas, historical grievances, and trade issues. Whether the confrontation will lead to tangible retaliation or be resolved through back-channel diplomacy remains unclear.
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