United States Deepens Critical Minerals Diplomacy with Algeria
Algeria is establishing itself as a key player in the global mining landscape by 2026, driven by an ambitious diversification strategy and increasing interest from Washington in its critical resources. This context of securing strategic mineral supply chains has led to closer diplomatic and economic ties between Algiers and Washington. A significant regulatory reform, law n° 25-12 of August 3, 2025, has removed the “49/51” rule, now permitting international investors to hold up to 80% capital in mining projects, along with a single thirty-year permit for exploration and exploitation.
This liberalization has fostered intensive dialogue between Algeria and American diplomacy, which aims to diversify its supply sources. The timing coincides with the operational phase of Algeria's major mining initiatives. The Gara Djebilet iron deposit in Tindouf, with reserves nearing 3.5 billion tonnes, saw its first railway shipments in February 2026. Industrial projections forecast output to rise from 1 million tonnes in 2026 to 8 million tonnes by 2030, supported by new transport and energy infrastructure. Concurrently, the phosphate sector in eastern Algeria, centered on the Bled El Hadba project (Tébessa, Souk Ahras, Annaba) with estimated exploitable reserves of 840 million tonnes, is advancing with international expertise, including from Italy's Saipem and China's CHEC. The zinc-lead project of Tala Hamza-Oued Amizour in Béjaïa further consolidates these key mining developments.
On the United States' side, the pursuit of critical minerals has intensified, marked by the expansion of its official list to 60 critical minerals, including phosphate, in November 2025, and subsequent White House decrees in 2026. These measures underscore Washington's resolve to safeguard its defense and advanced technologies against supply disruptions. Diplomatic visits have increased to cement these shared interests, notably with US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau's visit to Algiers in April 2026, followed by a bilateral meeting in June to deepen cooperation in exploration, extraction, and industrial processing. While no global financial contracts have yet been formalized with American firms, Algeria is positioning its mining potential, alongside its traditional and future energy wealth, as a credible alternative supplier, thereby strengthening its geopolitical leverage through mineral diplomacy and new transatlantic partnerships.
