Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said in Algiers on Monday that he sought to deepen ties with Algeria, as the countries mend relations after a dispute over Western Sahara.

Read more Algeria suspends Spain co-operation treaty over Western Sahara dispute

Sanchez told reporters that the visit, a first in four years, held “particular importance” for Spain, which views Algeria as “not only a neighbouring country but also a strategic partner”.

The premier, who was accompanied by senior Spanish energy executives, said Algeria was Spain’s largest supplier of natural gas this year.

Ties between Algiers and Madrid deteriorated in 2022 when Spain backed Morocco’s sovereignty claim over Western Sahara, reversing its decades-long neutral stance on the conflict over its former colony.

Spain’s shift had angered Algeria, which backs the pro-independence Polisario Front in Western Sahara.

Algeria’s President Abdelmadjid Tebboune said at the news conference in Algiers that talks with Sanchez were “fruitful” and “frank”, and the visit gave bilateral relations a “new impetus”.

Tebboune added that they discussed energy and ways to encourage Spanish companies to invest in Algeria, as well as migration issues and Western Sahara.

Sanchez said it was “essential to strengthen the political dialogue between Spain and Algeria” and to “build a mutually beneficial economic partnership”.

Algeria suspended a 2002 friendship treaty with Spain in 2022, recalled its ambassador and froze banking operations linked to trade with Madrid after it backed Morocco’s plan for Western Sahara.

Algeria and Spain began restoring commercial ties last year, and in March this year Algeria said it reactivated the friendship treaty.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)