Algeria Forges US Presidential Message Amid Growing Isolation
While Trump's actual message to Algerian President Abdelmajid Tebboune highlighted trade imbalance and punitive measures, Algeria's affiliated media claimed the US president had praised a 'lasting' partnership and expressed hope for flourishing ties between Algiers and Washington
Critics, however, exposed the Algerian regime's laughable attempt, noting that Trump's actual letter exposes the 'fake congratulatory message' published by Tebboune's office on Facebook as well as state television, among others.
Algeria's regime press said Tebboune received greetings from his US counterpart on the occasion of the 63rd anniversary of Independence Day and the recovery of the country's national sovereignty.
They went this far out of desperation
However, long-time Algerian critic and analyst Oualid Kebir said the letter is a fake congratulatory message published by the presidency's official Facebook page.
'They went as far as forging a message in the name of the US President,' he noted.
Kebir emphasized that while Trump had indeed sent a letter to Tebboune on Wednesday, the message was to inform him about the 30% tariffs on Algeria.
While emphasizing the strengthened commitment toward ties with Aleeria, President Trump said his country decided to 'move forward with you, but only with more balanced and fair trade.'
Trump concluded: 'Therefore, we invite you to participate in the extraordinary Economy of the United States, the Number One Market in the World, by far.'
The US administration has had years of discussions on trade ties with Algeria.
'[We] have concluded that we cannot move away from these long-term, and very persistent, trade Deficits endangered by Algeria's tariffs, non-tariff policies, and trade barriers,' says Trump's actual letter.
He said that the relationship with Algeria on trade has been 'unfortunately, far from reciprocal.'
Trump's letter added that starting August 1, the US will charge Algeria a tariff of only 30% on any and all Algerian shipments to the US, despite its current tariffs.
Although Trump did not send the letter attributed to his office as Algeria commemorated its Independence Day, US Secretary Marco Rubio did congratulate Algeria on the occasion of its 63rd National Day on July 5. In his message, the top US diplomat made the usual diplomatic gesture of hailing what he vaguely described as the enduring partnership between America and Algeria.
'We look forward to our continued cooperation, particularly in the realms of commercial opportunities and people-to-people exchange,' Rubio's statement said.
The recent controversy comes as Algeria's media and regime have been frustrated over the growing ties between Morocco and the US. This deepening of Algerian disappointment and desperation notably comes in response to the US' April statement confirming its position in favor of Morocco's sovereignty over its southern provinces in Western Sahara.
The statement shot down the Algerian regime's hopes and claims that the US reversed its steadfast position and recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over its southern provinces.
US President Donald Trump first announced this recognition in December 2020, and since then, the Algerian regime has been lobbying to get the US to reverse its pro-Morocco position on the Sahara dispute.
Not surprising
This latest controversy also adds to a list of similar fraudulent maneuvers from the Algerian regime and its mouthpiece media.
In May, Algeria's state television shared claims in a video news report alleging that local authorities had discovered a secret tunnel stretching from Morocco to the Bab El Assa border in Tlemcen province.
These drugs, allegedly trafficked to Algeria from Morocco, were essentially aimed at 'destabilizing' the region, the Algerian public television channel claimed.
Unsurprisingly, the video the Algerian channel used for its report is footage published months ago by Spanish security forces, showing a tunnel discovered in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. Tags: AlgeriaMorocco AlgeriaTrump tarrifsUSUS-Algeria
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