Relationship dossier
Algeria
Saudi Arabia
Relationship assessment
Cordial relations and oil-policy coordination, alongside differing positions on Western Sahara.
Algeria toward Saudi Arabia
+20Algeria has coordinated oil production policy with Saudi Arabia through OPEC and OPEC+, including the 2020 production-cut agreement. Algeria also supports the Polisario Front and Western Sahara's self-determination, in contrast with Saudi support for Morocco's position.
Saudi Arabia toward Algeria
+20Saudi Arabia has coordinated oil production policy with Algeria through OPEC and OPEC+, including the 2020 production-cut agreement. Saudi support for Morocco's position on Western Sahara contrasts with Algeria's support for the Polisario Front and self-determination.
Overall relationship
+20The relationship combines recurring cooperation on oil policy with a political difference over Western Sahara. Energy coordination supports a cooperative bilateral structure, while the available picture does not indicate a broad, highly integrated partnership.
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 Saudi Arabia have cooperated on oil policy through OPEC and OPEC+ coordination, including the 2020 production-cut agreement. Their relations are generally cordial, but energy coordination does not by itself indicate a broad or deeply integrated partnership. Their differing positions on Western Sahara are a potential source of political friction.
Areas of tension
- Western Sahara: Algeria supports the Polisario Front and self-determination, while Saudi Arabia supports Morocco's position.
Key developments
Algeria and Saudi Arabia participated in the OPEC+ agreement to reduce oil production.
Major uncertainties
- The extent of bilateral economic and security cooperation beyond oil policy is unclear.
- The practical effect of differing positions on Western Sahara on bilateral ties is unclear.