A study by the European Union Institute for Security Studies (EUISS), titled “Levers of influence – Africa: Diplomatic power,” found that Algeria has emerged as a significant diplomatic hub in Africa. Published on September 17, 2026, the study identified Algeria as one of only six African countries hosting all 15 international actors monitored, positioning it as an exceptional diplomatic intersection point. Algeria's strategic importance is enhanced by its location in North Africa, the Mediterranean, and the Sahel, placing it at the intersection of several critical geopolitical files. The report notes that Africa has become a field of broader competition among the EU, China, Turkey, the United States, Russia, and Gulf states.
Algeria's Diplomatic Standing
Algeria joins Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Senegal, and Tunisia as the only six African nations hosting all 15 international actors monitored by the EUISS study. This engagement shows the eagerness of international powers to maintain open diplomatic channels with Algeria. The country has become a significant destination for Turkish diplomatic activity in Africa, recording 7 high-level visits from Turkey. Recent diplomatic engagements involving Algeria include the Spanish Prime Minister's visit to Algeria, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune's visit to Germany, and the Nigerien President's visit to Algeria. An upcoming visit by the Malian President to Algeria is also anticipated. The EUISS study further notes that competition in Africa has expanded to include countries such as Turkey, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and Japan, which are actively engaging through summits, partnerships, and various diplomatic initiatives.
Measuring Global Influence
The European Union Institute for Security Studies (EUISS) study evaluated influence by assessing diplomatic presence, high-level political visits, official partnerships, and international summits. It tracked diplomatic presence through embassy networks, high-level visits, summits, official partnerships, and UN General Assembly voting patterns. The 15 international actors monitored include China, the European Union, India, Iran, Japan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Turkey, and the United States of America. North Africa accounted for 45.7 percent of recorded high-level visits to Africa. China maintains the widest diplomatic spread with 53 embassies across 53 African countries, while the EU has 50 diplomatic missions and the United States maintains 49 embassies on the continent. The EU was the most active in high-level visits, recording 75 visits to 25 African countries. Turkey conducted 54 high-level visits to Africa, and China recorded 43 such visits.
Broader Competition Landscape
Morocco was notably absent from the study's findings regarding diplomatic influence, according to the EUISS report. China possesses the broadest network of official partnerships with African countries, indicating its extensive engagement across the continent. Conversely, the European Union and the United States adopt a more selective approach to formalizing their relationships with African nations.
Strategic Importance and Future
Algeria's geographic position in North Africa, the Mediterranean, and the Sahel places it at the intersection of critical geopolitical files, according to the European Union Institute for Security Studies (EUISS). This location enhances its strategic importance, as detailed in the "Levers of influence – Africa: Diplomatic power" study. The EUISS report notes Algeria as one of only six African nations hosting all 15 international actors monitored, including China, the European Union, and the United States of America. This strong diplomatic presence shows the continued engagement of global powers with Algeria. The country's role as a key diplomatic hub is expected to persist as competition in Africa intensifies among various international players.