President Joe Biden has made one thing clear in his approach to foreign policy: it starts with Russia. Since entering office, Biden has taken a hard line against Moscow, denouncing the regime publicly and privately in his January phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Algeria’s travails present a bold opportunity for Biden to reset the Trump administration’s ill-fated Africa pivot and lend a hand. By ignoring Algeria, Biden is falling into a deadly trap, one that could jeopardize the region and bring Russian troops directly to NATO’s doorstep. Without it, Biden’s goal of containing Putin resembles Algeria’s oil profits: both are irretrievably lost.

Source: The North Africa Journal May 25, 2021 12:32 UTC