Algeria Condemns the Violation Without Disturbing the Violator: A Foreign Ministry Statement or a Masterclass in Linguistic Evasion?
In a politically clear scene that leaves no room for interpretation, Algeria, as usual, decided to be the sole exception in the region by opting for profound ambiguity instead of decisive clarity following Iran’s missile strike on the American base at Al Udeid in Qatar. While most Arab capitals united in condemning what was deemed a direct violation of an Arab state’s sovereignty, Algeria found itself in a state of “deep concern” and “serious preoccupation,” as if it were facing a linguistic crisis preventing it from uttering Iran’s name.
The statement issued by the Algerian Foreign Ministry resembled that of a student fearful of angering two teachers simultaneously, discussing “violations of the sovereignty of the sisterly state of Qatar and the sanctity of its territory” without daring to name the violator. Was it too difficult for Algerian diplomacy to mention Iran? Or have the calculations of alliances and the murky bets on conflicting axes come to dominate the formulation of positions more than any principled or ethical considerations?
Ironically, this statement was merely a dull reproduction of a diplomatic style Algeria has grown accustomed to: empty rhetoric, neutral in form, yet lacking in substance. It neither stands with the victim nor against the perpetrator, contenting itself with indicating that “there is some problem” without specifying who caused it. It’s like saying, “We reject murder,” without pointing out the killer, even though he is standing right in front of you, smiling, with his weapon still warm.
Despite the world witnessing radical shifts in the relationships and balances among countries, Algeria remains trapped in an outdated approach that views silence as a virtue and ambiguity as a diplomatic skill, even when it concerns a blatant aggression against a sisterly Arab state. Thus, the Algerian Foreign Ministry continues to play the role of the cautious bystander, reluctant to applaud or object for fear of disturbing any party or being counted on for a position in a time where neutrality has become a luxury afforded only by those deemed unreliable.
Does Algeria truly still believe that ambiguity grants it weight in the region? Or has it lost the ability to express itself except in wooden language? In any case, the message is clear: when Qatar’s sovereignty is subjected to a direct violation, do not expect more from Algeria than “preoccupation” and “concern”… and perhaps also a few formulaic phrases suitable for diplomatic consumption, nothing more.
