During a recent visit to Algiers, French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced a significant step towards resuming security cooperation between Algeria and France. This agreement follows years of strained relations, particularly after France's 2024 endorsement of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, a territory Algeria disputes by supporting the Polisario Front. The meeting between Nuñez and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune marked the first tangible sign of improving diplomatic ties between the two nations.

The discussions focused on a high-level mechanism for security cooperation, emphasizing the need to restore normal relations, including areas such as judicial cooperation, policing, and intelligence sharing. Nuñez expressed his gratitude to President Tebboune for his government's willingness to collaborate with French authorities on issues related to the readmission of migrants. Algeria's previous reluctance to accept its nationals living in France illegally has been a point of contention that was highlighted during the talks.

This development is critical not only for the bilateral relationship between the two countries but also for broader regional stability. The restoration of cooperation could enhance security measures against terrorism and organized crime in the region. Moreover, it reflects a strategic recalibration that might open doors for addressing other contentious issues in Franco-Algerian relations, further reducing tensions that have lingered since their colonial past.