Since the late 1970s, Algeria has undertaken a methodical transformation of its military apparatus, a shift that has deeply shaped the strategic balance in the Maghreb. The entry into service of the Mikoyan‑Gurevich MiG‑25 within the People’s National Army (ANP) marked a decisive turning point. At the time, this supersonic interceptor—capable of flying at very high altitudes and reaching speeds close to Mach 3—introduced a major technological breakthrough in the region.
This choice was neither symbolic nor circumstantial. It reflected a long-term strategic vision: ensuring durable qualitative superiority based on deterrence and autonomy.
Continuous Modernization: From Classical Deterrence to the Advanced Generation
The acquisition of the MiG‑25 was only the starting point of a cumulative dynamic. Algeria gradually consolidated all dimensions of its military power.
- The introduction of the Sukhoi Su‑30MKA marked a major leap in operational versatility: air superiority, ground attack, and strategic projection.
- The integration of the Sukhoi Su‑34 further strengthened long‑range strike capabilities and the neutralization of adversary systems.
- More recently, the arrival of the Sukhoi Su‑35 and especially the Sukhoi Su‑57—an advanced‑generation platform with stealth technologies and sophisticated avionics—signals a significant upgrade in Algeria’s air fleet.
This evolution demonstrates a consistent doctrinal approach: building an integrated air architecture capable of providing superiority, deterrence, and resilience.
Converging International Indicators
Assessments published by specialized organizations such as Global Firepower and Military Watch Magazine regularly place Algeria among Africa’s leading military powers, ahead of Morocco.
These rankings are based on objective criteria:
- Defense budget level and consistency
- Volume and modernity of equipment
- Air power and integrated air defense
- Strategic land depth
- Naval capabilities
Historically, Algeria has benefited from a higher defense budget in absolute terms, allowing sustained capability accumulation and regular maintenance of complex systems.
The Maritime Dimension: A Recognized Advantage
On the naval front, Algeria has invested in modern frigates, anti‑ship missile systems, and submarines, consolidating a strong maritime denial capability in the western Mediterranean.
Foreign analyses have highlighted the professionalism and operational effectiveness of the Algerian navy. In the framework of parliamentary work in France on naval balances in the Mediterranean, a former chief of staff of the French Navy referred to the structural lead of the Algerian navy, noting that despite Rabat’s efforts, the Moroccan navy is unlikely to close this capability and organizational gap in the near future.
This external recognition reinforces the idea of superiority built over time, both in equipment and training.
Two Opposing Strategic Models
Over the decades, a clear strategic contrast has emerged between Algiers and Rabat.
Algeria has favored a doctrine of autonomy:
- Internal accumulation of capabilities
- Independent decision‑making
- Integrated national deterrence
This is reflected in:
- Strategic rapprochement with the United States
- Normalization with Israel
- Security cooperation with France
This does not imply that Morocco abandoned modernization, but rather that it chose an alternative model: instead of engaging in a symmetric arms race that is difficult to sustain against a continental power with greater energy resources and territorial depth, Rabat seeks to balance through integration into Western security architectures.
In this strategic reading, Morocco’s choices should not be interpreted as an abandonment of military modernization, but rather as a deliberate shift: instead of pursuing a symmetric arms race that would be difficult to sustain against a continental power endowed with broader energy resources and greater territorial depth, Rabat seeks to rebalance the equation by integrating itself into Western security architectures.
Thus, Algeria’s military superiority is not conceived as a tool of confrontation but as a guarantee of stability, especially in the face of a Morocco that has enshrined a maximalist territorial vision in its own constitutional text. Article 42 of the Moroccan Constitution, referring to the “authentic borders of Morocco,” echoes the doctrine of “Greater Morocco,” a historical narrative that legitimizes expansionist interpretations.
In this light, Algeria’s posture is not ideological but pragmatic: military strength becomes the indispensable shield that preserves peace, particularly when confronted with territorial ambitions reaffirmed at the constitutional level in Morocco.
Hypothetical Conventional Confrontation Without External Intervention
In a purely theoretical scenario, excluding any external intervention, several structural factors favor Algeria:
- Quantitative and qualitative air superiority
- Integrated, multi‑layered air defense
- Significant strategic territorial depth
- Naval denial capability in the Mediterranean
- Heavy land forces and modernized artillery
- An optimized Algerian logistical chain, offering reinforced equipment maintenance and efficient fuel stock management
- A secure, closed, high‑performance telecommunications network, making hacking attempts nearly impossible
This does not mean a conflict would be simple or without human and material cost—war is inherently unpredictable. But a comparative analysis of capabilities suggests that in the absence of external support, the structural balance of power would tilt in Algeria’s favor.
A Power Serving Sovereignty
It is important to recall that Algerian military doctrine is based on deterrence, not aggression. Since independence, the construction of national military power has aimed primarily at protecting sovereignty, territorial integrity, and regional stability.
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