The Minister of Foreign Affairs has cautioned that Algeria appears poised to initiate a conflict with Morocco. This warning comes just two days after King Mohammed VI's message to Morocco's eastern neighbor. Has Morocco moved away from its posture of reaching out to Algeria? Following King Mohammed VI's firm statements on November 6, Morocco's Foreign Minister has now issued a warning to Algeria's eastern neighbor, cautioning against any intent to wage war on Morocco. This warning was delivered on Friday, November 8, as the minister presented his department's draft budget for the 2025 fiscal year to the House of Representatives' Foreign Affairs, National Defense, Islamic Affairs, Migration, and Moroccans Living Abroad Committee. Nasser Bourita asserted that there are «signs indicating Algeria's intent to start a war in the region and engage in military conflict with Morocco». The foreign minister emphasized that Algeria is actively trying to «escalate» and push for «confrontation» with the kingdom. According to Bourita, a potential war could be Algeria's response to Morocco's recent diplomatic gains on the Sahara issue, including France's recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over the region—a departure from Algeria's traditional statements of disapproval. A conflict serving Algeria's interests An escalation could also serve Algiers by deflecting public attention from the country's ongoing political and economic crises, including the Hirak movement and shortages of essential goods. In this context, Algeria might play the «historical enemy» card, stoking a narrative fueled by an ongoing «media war» that has become a daily reality. In his November 6 speech, King Mohammed VI pointed out those who «use the Sahara issue as a smokescreen to hide their domestic problems». This tension isn't new. The day after Morocco and Israel signed a military cooperation agreement in Rabat on November 24, 2021, an Algerian military source urged his country to go to war against Morocco, stating, «We must act now because we are militarily superior at all levels, which may not be the case in a few years», as he told the French newspaper L'Opinion. Since then, Morocco has bolstered its Royal Armed Forces (FAR) with new weaponry and launched its own military industry program—developments that have increasingly concerned Algeria. In the 2025 budget, Algeria has allocated $25 billion for its military, up from $21.6 billion in 2024 and $18 billion in 2023.
