Algeria appears to be softening its stance on Israel and is seeking to strengthen its ties with the United States. In a surprising move, Algiers has contracted the BGR Group, a firm with alleged ties to Israel, to represent its interests in the United States. The contract is valued at $720,000 annually, according to Jeune Afrique magazine. The co-founder of the BGR Group, Haley Reeves Barbour, is a prominent member of the Republican Party. This suggests that Algeria is anticipating a potential victory for Republican billionaire Donald Trump in the upcoming US presidential elections. Algeria's engagement with US lobbying firms began in November 2018 when it signed a contract with Keene Consulting Services, headed by David Keene, another Republican Party member. The contract was valued at $360,000. Despite these efforts, Morocco has achieved significant diplomatic gains in Washington, including the Trump administration's recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara and the lifting of a block on arms orders from Morocco during the Biden presidency. The new contract between Algeria and BGR comes just two months after the death of former Republican senator James Inhofe, a staunch supporter of both Algeria and the Polisario Front, as well as Israel.
