Relationship dossier
Algeria
Denmark
Relationship assessment
A bilateral relationship marked by a dispute over Danish newspaper cartoons and limited clarity about broader cooperation
Algeria toward Denmark
-10The Algerian government condemned the publication of cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad in a Danish newspaper and sought an apology, creating diplomatic friction with Denmark.
Denmark toward Algeria
-10The Danish government maintained that it could not direct or apologize for the actions of an independent newspaper after Algeria objected to its cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad.
Overall relationship
-5The relationship has included a concrete diplomatic dispute over the Danish newspaper cartoons, with Algeria seeking an apology and Denmark invoking the newspaper's independence. The scope and durability of other bilateral cooperation are unclear.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Algeria and Denmark have had a bilateral dispute over the publication of cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad in a Danish newspaper. The Algerian government condemned the publication and sought an apology, while the Danish government maintained that it could not direct or apologize for the actions of an independent newspaper. This episode points to limited friction, but the breadth of other government cooperation is unclear.
Areas of tension
- Algeria's objection to cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad published by a Danish newspaper and its call for an apology.
Key developments
The Algerian government condemned cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad published by a Danish newspaper and sought an apology; the Danish government maintained that it could not direct the newspaper.
Major uncertainties
- The scope of bilateral agreements and government cooperation beyond the cartoon controversy is unclear.
- The extent to which the dispute affected subsequent bilateral engagement is unclear.