Algeria, France hold 1st presidential-level security meeting during Macron’s visit

Algeria and France held on Friday their first ever presidential-level security meeting during French President Emmanuel Macron’s three-day visit to the North African country.

The security meeting jointly chaired in Algiers, capital of Algeria, was attended by Macron and his Algerian counterpart Abdelmadjid Tebboune, as well as senior army and security officials from both countries, said the Algerian presidency in a statement.

This is the first meeting “at this level” between the two countries since the independence of Algeria from French colonial rule in 1962, the statement noted.

The two sides exchanged views on security issues of common interest, and “confirm their keenness to develop bilateral relations to the desired level,” according to the statement.

Leading a large delegation of ministers and business people, Macron arrived in Algiers on Thursday with a view to easing strained ties and widening cooperation in various fields.

This is Macron’s second visit to Algeria since he took power in 2017.