Massad Boulos, a senior adviser to Donald Trump on Africa and the Middle East, made his third visit to Algeria since July 2025 on September 13, with talks covering regional security, energy, trade and Western Sahara, according to APS and Algeria’s Foreign Ministry. He had previously travelled to Algiers on July 27, 2025 and January 27, 2026.
“Algeria is an important partner for the United States” in “promoting regional security, expanding economic opportunities and achieving prosperity for both countries,” Boulos said after meeting President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, describing the talks as “very fruitful.”
The US official also met Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb, Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf and Sonatrach CEO Nour Eddine Daoudi. His talks with Daoudi focused on ways to deepen energy cooperation.
Three visits, recurring priorities
During his first trip in July 2025, Boulos had already discussed defence, energy, agriculture, higher education and scientific research with Algerian officials. Libya, Western Sahara and the Sahel were also on the agenda.
Six months later, in January 2026, he returned to Algiers and again met Tebboune and Attaf, stressing economic ties as well as cooperation on peace and security.
Military contacts have also increased. In January 2025, army chief Saïd Chanegriha and AFRICOM commander Michael Langley signed a memorandum on defence cooperation in Algiers, the first agreement of its kind between the two countries.
The closer contacts come as Algeria remains a major buyer of Russian weapons, while Washington has long maintained close military ties with Morocco, a major non-NATO ally since 2004.
Chevron and ExxonMobil expand their interest
Chevron signed a 24-month agreement with ALNAFT on January 22, 2025 to assess Algeria’s offshore oil potential. According to Algerian Business, $100 million is to be spent on the studies, funded by the US group.
The agreement does not yet cover drilling. Mourad Beldjehem, then head of ALNAFT, said Chevron could identify an area of interest after the study and then submit an offer to Sonatrach for exploration and production. Some offshore areas exceed 2,500 metres in water depth.
ExxonMobil is also working with Sonatrach on possible new projects in Algeria. During Boulos’s July 2025 visit, the Energy Ministry had already cited partnerships with Chevron and ExxonMobil among the issues discussed.
US goods exports to Algeria reached $1.3 billion in 2025, up 25.9% year on year, according to the USTR.
Western Sahara remains on the agenda
Ahmed Attaf and Massad Boulos again discussed Western Sahara during the September visit, alongside Libya and the Sahel, according to Algeria’s Foreign Ministry. No details of the exchange were released.
The issue had already featured in Boulos’s first visit in July 2025.
Algiers and Washington remain divided over the territory. The United States recognises Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, while Algeria supports the Polisario Front and the principle of self-determination.
Boulos’s three visits have nonetheless established more regular high-level contacts, with defence, hydrocarbons, trade and regional crises now repeatedly appearing in bilateral talks.