The Trump administration is making a renewed push to resolve the Western Sahara issue, but its efforts are currently facing resistance from Algeria. In its opposition, Algeria is leveraging its rare earth minerals and a draft law aimed at regulating oil exploration. Here's what's at stake. On Tuesday, June 24, the Secretary-General of Algeria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lounes Magramane, met with U.S. Ambassador to Algeria, Elizabeth Moore Aubin. According to a statement from the Algerian Foreign Ministry, both officials reiterated their «shared commitment to strengthening bilateral relations» and expanding cooperation. Ambassador Aubin later noted on X (formerly Twitter) that the exchange focused on «regional issues«and ways to deepen bilateral ties. Among the topics discussed was the Western Sahara conflict. According to a Moroccan source familiar with the matter, the U.S. diplomat conveyed the Trump administration's intent to revive the settlement process based on Morocco's 2007 autonomy plan. «The upcoming Security Council session in October, when a new resolution to extend MINURSO's mandate is due, could offer Washington an opportunity to push its vision onto Algeria», the source added. Algeria Looks to Energy to Bolster U.S. Ties While the Trump administration appears determined to advance a resolution to the Western Sahara issue, Algeria is doubling down on its energy diplomacy to win over Washington. On the same day as the Magramane–Aubin meeting, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune received a high-level delegation from U.S. oil giant Chevron, led by Vice President for Business Development Joe Cook. The following day, Tebboune also welcomed executives from ExxonMobil. Algeria's Minister of Energy Mohamed Arkab and Sonatrach CEO Rachid Hachichi were also present. These meetings come as Algeria's government is pushing forward a draft law allowing foreign investors to hold up to 80% ownership in unexplored oil and gas fields, leaving only 20% to public enterprises. Arkab described the law as «a qualitative leap» in Algeria's structural energy reforms, emphasizing that it upholds national sovereignty over resources. The talks with Chevron and ExxonMobil appear to align with an offer reportedly made nearly four months ago by Algerian Ambassador Sabri Boukadoum to former U.S. President Donald Trump. «Algeria is ready to discuss an agreement on its natural and mineral resources», Boukadoum told a U.S. media outlet, adding that «the sky is the limit» to future cooperation. Meanwhile, at the UN Security Council in April, the Secretary-General's personal envoy for Western Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, noted that «the next three months would be an opportunity for regional de-escalation and, separately, a renewed roadmap toward resolving the Western Sahara conflict». That window is now closing, without any new negotiations announced.
