“France is not a doormat, but Algeria wipes its feet on us,” Franz-Olivier Giesbert said in an article published in Le Point. The journalist condemns Algeria’s repeated provocations and hostile attitude toward France despite substantial aid and diplomatic goodwill.
He also criticized Europe’s stance toward external pressures, warning that such inaction invites further humiliations amid a rapidly evolving global geopolitical landscape.
Giesbert highlights the strained relations between Paris and Algiers. Despite France providing EUR 842 million in public development aid between 2017 and 2022, Algeria continues to adopt an “antagonistic approach.”
This generosity sharply contrasts with Algeria’s significant hydrocarbon revenues, which can reach USD 50 billion annually during peak periods.
The article also touched on troubling trends, such as the moral persecution of Boualem Sansal, a writer of Algerian origin who gained French citizenship, and the hate campaigns propagated by Algerian influencers based in France.
Encouraged by remarks from individuals close to Algeria’s President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, these influencers push for the radicalization of the Algerian diaspora under the banner of a modern-day “moudjahidism.”
Expanding his analysis, Giesbert denounced the European Union’s broader inaction in the face of aggressive foreign ambitions.
He cited examples including Turkey’s targeted assassinations of Kurds in Paris, Russia’s growing influence in Slovakia and Moldova, and the United States’ interest in acquiring Greenland for its rare earth resources.
Meanwhile, China also eyes the strategic value of the island, yet Europe fails to respond decisively.
For Giesbert, this European passivity invites further humiliation and exploitation. He called on EU institutions to take a stand, noting that “weakness stirs greed, and apathy invites humiliation.” He warns that Europe must act swiftly to reclaim its sovereignty and dignity before it is too late.