What Is Driving Washington’s Growing Convergence With Algeria on Libya?
By Mohamed Belkour | Algeria Now
Translated by Dr. Hana Saada
ALGIERS, June 20 — Growing convergence between the United States and Algeria over the future of Libya reflects an evolving alignment of strategic interests rather than a fundamental shift in either country’s long-standing positions, according to analysts and regional experts.
As Libya enters its second decade of political fragmentation, the country has become a focal point where regional security concerns, energy interests and geopolitical competition increasingly intersect. Once viewed primarily as a domestic crisis, the Libyan conflict now carries implications extending across North Africa, the Sahel and the Mediterranean basin.
Against this backdrop, recent U.S. calls for the formation of a unified Libyan government have underscored a notable convergence with Algeria’s long-standing approach, which advocates preserving Libya’s sovereignty, rejecting foreign military intervention and promoting an inclusive Libyan-led political process.
Analysts argue that this convergence stems less from a change in Algeria’s diplomatic doctrine than from Washington’s reassessment of the risks posed by prolonged instability in Libya, including the expansion of extremist groups, irregular migration, organised crime and intensifying competition among external powers for influence and access to energy resources.
Convergence of Interests Rather Than a Shift in Principles
According to Dr. Mohamed Adam Al-Mokrani, a Paris-based political analyst and international lawyer, the current rapprochement between Algeria and the United States over Libya reflects a growing overlap in strategic interests.
“Algeria has consistently maintained a position centred on preserving Libya’s territorial integrity and rejecting both partition scenarios and military solutions,” Al-Mokrani told Algeria Now.
“Washington increasingly recognises that Libya’s institutional fragmentation is no longer solely a domestic issue but has become a direct threat to the stability of North Africa, the Sahel and the Mediterranean.”
He added that the United States has become increasingly concerned that the continued political vacuum could facilitate the expansion of armed groups, intensify irregular migration flows and create opportunities for rival powers to strengthen their presence in Libya.
Washington’s Push for a Unity Government
Observers say U.S. support for the establishment of a unified Libyan government reflects a broader assessment that political reunification represents the essential first step towards rebuilding state institutions, including the military, financial and energy sectors.
Al-Mokrani noted that the existence of competing governments and institutions has hindered efforts to restore stability and transformed Libya into an arena for regional and international competition.
“From Washington’s perspective, unifying executive authority is necessary to organise elections and restore institutional coherence, thereby creating a new political legitimacy based on popular will rather than perpetuating the current divisions,” he said.
Algeria, however, views a unity government as a mechanism rather than an objective in itself.
For Algiers, such a government should facilitate an inclusive intra-Libyan dialogue process capable of preserving national sovereignty and preventing external actors from shaping Libya’s political future.
This approach, analysts say, has enhanced Algeria’s credibility among various Libyan stakeholders and regional actors.
Regional Security Emerges as a Common Priority
One of the clearest indicators of growing alignment between Algeria and the United States is their increasingly shared perception that Libya’s stability forms an integral component of regional security architecture.
For Algeria, Libya represents a strategic neighbour with which it shares extensive borders and interconnected security concerns linked to the Sahel.
For Washington, Libya occupies a critical position within Mediterranean security calculations, European stability, migration management and counterterrorism efforts.
As a result, the central question has shifted from determining who governs Libya to identifying how a functioning state can be rebuilt to prevent the country from becoming a persistent source of regional instability.
Libya at the Centre of Geopolitical Competition
Since the collapse of the regime of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya has evolved from an internal power struggle into a complex geopolitical arena shaped by competing regional and international interests.
The conflict now intersects with broader questions relating to Mediterranean security, the stability of the Sahel and the future of global energy markets.
After years of relative disengagement, the United States has intensified its diplomatic involvement amid shifting international dynamics, including the war in Ukraine, expanding Russian influence in Africa, strategic competition with China and efforts to secure alternative energy supplies for European markets.
Algeria, meanwhile, has maintained a consistent engagement with the Libyan file, viewing stability in Libya as inseparable from the security of Algeria, the Maghreb region and the Sahel.
Algeria’s Role as a Credible Mediator
Dr. Wadie Makhlouf, professor of political science and international relations at the University of 8 May 1945 Guelma, said Algeria has established itself as one of the most credible regional actors in the Libyan crisis due to its commitment to dialogue and rejection of foreign intervention.
“Algerian diplomacy has maintained equal distance from all Libyan parties, enabling it to preserve communication channels with all stakeholders,” Makhlouf told Algeria Now.
He argued that several regional and international actors have lost part of their mediation capacity because of their political or military alignments, while Algeria’s neutrality has enhanced its credibility.
According to Makhlouf, Washington increasingly recognises the value of Algeria’s approach, particularly given the limitations of externally imposed solutions.
Declining Viability of Military Solutions
Recent developments have reinforced the view that military solutions are no longer a viable option in Libya.
Each round of confrontation has largely reproduced existing power balances without enabling any side to establish decisive control.
As the costs of continued fragmentation increase, the logic of political compromise has gained traction.
Algeria has consistently maintained that any settlement lacking broad Libyan consensus would remain fragile and vulnerable to collapse.
This perspective is increasingly echoed by influential international actors, including the United States, which views Libya not only as a political challenge but also as part of a wider network of security concerns encompassing terrorism, migration, armed groups and Russian influence in Africa.
The Sahel Factor
Analysts argue that Washington’s renewed focus on Libya cannot be understood without considering developments across the Sahel region.
Military coups, the erosion of Western influence and the growing presence of armed groups have heightened concerns about regional instability.
Libya’s porous southern borders have facilitated the movement of weapons, trafficking networks and armed groups across the Sahel, creating significant security challenges for Algeria and raising concerns among the United States and its European allies.
Political stabilisation in Libya is therefore increasingly viewed as an essential component of broader efforts to strengthen regional security.
Competing Global Interests
Despite broad agreement on the need to end Libya’s political fragmentation, major powers continue to compete for influence.
Russia sees Libya as a gateway for expanding its presence in both Africa and the Mediterranean.
Turkey remains committed to preserving its political, military and economic influence.
European countries continue to prioritise energy security and migration management.
The United States, meanwhile, appears focused on preventing Libya from becoming an exclusive sphere of influence for rival powers.
In this complex environment, Algeria benefits from a unique advantage: its engagement is primarily driven by national security considerations rather than ambitions for political or economic influence inside Libya.
Energy as a Strategic Driver
Beyond security considerations, Libya’s substantial oil and gas reserves remain central to international calculations.
The country possesses some of Africa’s largest hydrocarbon resources, characterised by relatively low production costs and close proximity to European markets.
As a result, Libya’s energy sector has become increasingly important to global energy security, particularly following disruptions caused by the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Dr. Baghdad Mendouche, an international energy expert, said U.S. interest in Libya is closely linked to ensuring stable oil production and supporting global energy markets.
“Any political progress leading to the reunification of Libya’s institutions, particularly the National Oil Corporation, would provide a more stable environment for international investment and reduce the risk of production disruptions caused by political disputes,” he told Algeria Now.
He added that Libya possesses significant potential to increase output if political and institutional stability can be achieved.
Security and Energy: Two Sides of the Same Equation
Experts caution against viewing international engagement solely through the lens of energy.
Recent experience has demonstrated that energy security and political stability are increasingly interconnected.
Reliable energy supplies depend on functioning institutions, while strong institutions cannot emerge amid persistent political fragmentation.
Although Algeria and the United States may differ in some aspects of their strategic calculations, both share a common assessment that the costs of maintaining the status quo outweigh those associated with pursuing a comprehensive political settlement.
For Algeria, the issue remains closely tied to national security and regional stability.
For the United States, Libya forms part of a broader strategic landscape encompassing Mediterranean security, energy markets, Russian influence and the stability of European allies.
Can U.S.-Algerian Convergence Break the Deadlock?
Despite growing convergence between Washington and Algiers, analysts emphasise that any sustainable solution ultimately depends on Libyans themselves.
International consensus can create favourable conditions but cannot impose stability in the absence of domestic agreement.
Previous initiatives have repeatedly demonstrated the limitations of externally driven approaches and the risks posed by competing regional and international agendas.
Algeria continues to argue that any lasting settlement must remain fundamentally “Libyan-led and Libyan-owned,” with international actors playing a facilitating rather than directive role.
Recent developments suggest that Libya has become a central arena where questions of security, energy and geopolitical influence increasingly converge.
While current discussions focus on forming a unified government and organising elections, they also reflect a broader contest over the future balance of power in North Africa and the Mediterranean.
Whether the growing convergence between Algeria’s diplomatic vision and U.S. strategic interests can help break Libya’s prolonged political deadlock remains uncertain.
Ultimately, analysts agree, the answer will depend not on external powers alone but on the ability of Libyans themselves to transform international support into an opportunity to build unified and effective state institutions.
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