Algeria Will Not Participate in the African Lion 2025 Military Exercises

On April 11, 2025, it was confirmed that Algeria would not participate in the African Lion 2025 military exercises, a major event organized by the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM). While it had been suggested that Algeria might be included as an observer, the official list of participants did not mention it. This refusal to participate marks a new tension in diplomatic relations between Algeria and some of the United States’ main partners, such as Morocco and Israel, with which Algeria has deep political differences.

The African Lion military exercises, which will begin on April 14 in Tunisia, will be the largest in history. These maneuvers, which will also take place in Morocco, Senegal, and Ghana, will bring together over 10,000 soldiers from more than 40 countries. Their goal is to strengthen security across the African continent and internationally, particularly against the threats posed by terrorist groups and criminal gangs, while preparing military forces for closer cooperation.

Although Algeria had been considered as an observer, its complicated geopolitical position with countries like Morocco and Israel seems to have influenced its absence from these exercises. In fact, the current political and military situation, marked by differences with the United States, led to this exclusion, despite Algeria’s undeniable military power, which is one of the largest in Africa in terms of investments, personnel, and equipment.

The African Lion 2025 event will bring together countries from all over, including Cameroon, Cape Verde, Israel, the United States, and many more. These exercises will have a significant impact on security cooperation in Africa and the fight against regional threats, highlighting the strategic importance of transnational military cooperation. However, Algeria’s absence could weaken some aspects of this cooperation, especially in the context of current geopolitical tensions.

Finally, observer countries such as Belgium, Qatar, and India show a wide interest in regional cooperation and collective security. However, Algeria, by staying on the sidelines, may seek to strengthen its alliances with Tunisia and Libya, in order to counter what it perceives as an anti-Algerian alliance in the Sahel and beyond.