Deeply concerning joint Algeria-Russia military exercises
26.10.2022
Question for written answer E-003502/2022/rev.1
to the Commission
Rule 138
Tomasz Frankowski (PPE), Andrzej Halicki (PPE)
Joint Algeria-Russia military exercises are currently taking place in the Mediterranean. This is just one instance in a long series of joint military manoeuvres inaugurated in 2017 between Algiers and Moscow. They have occurred in places like Dagestan and Vostok and have boosted coordination between the Algerian and Russian armies, especially in terms of interoperability. Further military exercises will take place next November on Algerian territory, in a desert region not far from the Moroccan border.
In the wake of Putin’s aggression against Ukraine and in a context of increase insecurity in the Sahel and Sahara regions, this military collaboration is extremely concerning, not only for peace and security, but also for western and EU interests.
EU-Algerian relations are framed by the Association Agreement signed in 2002, which establishes security matters as one of the priorities for political dialogue between the two parties.
In the light of this situation:
- 1.Under the EU-Algeria Association Agreement, is the Commission going to call the Algerian ambassador to the EU for consultations in order to discuss these very serious and concerning occurrences?
Submitted: 26.10.2022