Algeria's new airbase near Morocco sparks regional tension
Algeria has completed the construction of an airbase featuring Russian MiG-29 fighter jets near the Moroccan border, as confirmed by the Atlantic Observatory of Defense and Armament. Will this development escalate regional tensions?
Algeria, with support from Russia, has finished building a new airbase near its border with Morocco. The base is strategically located in Umm al-Assal, just 45 miles from the border, in the Tindouf region. Satellite images published by the Atlantic Observatory of Defense and Armament (AODA) reveal military infrastructure, including runways and aircraft shelters.
Tensions at the Algerian-Moroccan border
Two MiG-29M2 fighter jets are stationed at the base, which, according to Moroccan media, is seen as a provocation by Algeria. Morocco and Algeria have long been in conflict over Western Sahara, and the new base could escalate the situation further. The Moroccan portal Moroccoworldnews emphasizes that the base is part of a larger network of 25 military installations along the border.
Observers warn that the deployment of the base could lead to regional conflict, potentially spreading across the entire Sahel region. A potential war could trigger new waves of migration to Europe and disrupt trade in the Mediterranean Sea, as noted by the think tank Oxford Analytica.
International relations
Algeria maintains close relations with Russia, which worries Morocco. Algeria has signed an agreement to purchase 14 MiG-29M2 fighter jets. Meanwhile, Morocco is strengthening its ties with France, the USA, and Israel, which also concerns Algeria. Although both countries are trying to avoid war, tensions remain high.
Western Sahara remains the main point of contention. Morocco, backed by the West, considers this region its autonomous area, while Algeria supports the Saharan separatists. The situation in the region remains tense, and the new military base could further strain relations between the neighbors.
