Algeria just made a big splash on the global stage, officially joining ASEAN as a partner (What is Asean: An Explainer). The North African nation is essentially hitting the reset button on its foreign policy, shifting its gaze from its usual European and Mediterranean neighbors eastward. The move is a positive one for Algiers, which will enable it to expand its economic horizons, boosting its international presence, and snagging a spot as a crucial bridge between Africa, Asia, and Europe. It’s a smart play to diversify its economy beyond oil and gas and tap into the vibrant growth of Asian markets.
For the ASEAN group, it is also a clear strategy of entry into the massive African market, bacause Algeria is part of the African Continental Free Trade Area. ASEAN access to natural resources is also a key motivating factor, in a nation that has shown relatively political stable over the past years, making it an appealing prospect.
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