Will Donald Trump’s ‘golden age’ shape US ties with the Maghreb?

After the inauguration of US President Donald Trump–predictably controversial, bizarre, and, some might say, saturated with Nazism–Maghreb countries brace for a new chapter in their dealings with the Republican leader, whose first term was contentious, to say the least.

While some states are eager to revive long-stalled agreements under his leadership, others are apprehensive about the so-called “golden age” he promises and the potential upheavals it could bring to the region.  

Algeria: Moscow or Washington?  

Algeria, one of Russia’s last allies in the region, is on edge following the appointment of Marco Rubio as Secretary of State in Trump’s cabinet.  

In 2022, Rubio sent a letter to then-Secretary of State Antony Blinken, arguing that Algeria’s defence deals with Russia, worth more than $7 billion, enabled Moscow’s war machine in Ukraine. While the context of that letter was different, Algeria remains wary of how Rubio’s hawkish stance might shape future US-Algeria relations.  

Surprisingly, when it comes to Western Sahara, Algeria has refrained from its usual diplomatic outbursts against Washington, even when Trump recognised Morocco’s sovereignty over the disputed territory in 2020–a claim also made by the Algeria-backed Polisario Front.  

Instead, Algeria’s envoy to Washington has emphasised cooperation on security, investments, and energy over disputes.  

Tunisia: Trump’s Abraham Accords 2.0  

Tunisian President Kais Saied has often been called ‘Trumpian’. Both leaders harbour a belief in their ‘divine mandate‘ and embrace anti-migration conspiracy theories.  

However, during Trump’s first term, relations between the two leaders were less than cordial. In 2020, Saied dismissed the Abraham Accords–a series of normalisation agreements between Arab states and Israel–as the “injustice of the century.”  

Much has changed since then. Saied has since blocked a vote on legislation to criminalise normalisation with Israel and presided over a crackdown on pro-Palestine activists, many of whom now face terrorism charges.  

Saied’s current challenge is securing funding for Tunisia’s cash-strapped economy. According to the Italian publication Panorama, Trump could provide solutions—but at a cost: Normalisation with Israel may be back on the table.  

The publication also suggests that Rome, which maintains good relations with Saied, could play a key role in facilitating an agreement between Tunis, Tel Aviv and Washington.  

Morocco: An American Consulate in Western Sahara  

In Morocco, unlike many states in the region, Trump enjoys a niche fanbase, primarily among the Moorish movement–a nationalist group inspired by Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan, rebranded as “Make Morocco Great Again.”  

The Moorish movement, mostly active online, is known for its anti-migrant and pro-normalisation stances with Israel. It has gained traction primarily among Millennial and Gen Z Moroccan men in the diaspora, though it lacks any formal political organisation.  

Pro-government Moroccan media outlets also seem optimistic about Trump’s return. “Re-election of Donald Trump: An opportunity for Morocco,” declared local publication Barlamane mere minutes after his victory was announced.  

In December 2020, Trump recognised Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara in exchange for Rabat normalising ties with Israel. He also promised Rabat a consulate in Dakhla, a city in the disputed Western Sahara region. Under Biden, construction of the consulate was quietly paused.  

Now, with Trump back in the White House, Moroccan nationalists are hopeful that restarting the Dakhla consulate project will be high on his agenda.  

However, so far, President Trump appears more focused on combating “woke” genders, and railing against “criminal aliens.”