Algeria published a communiqué after the Madrid meeting, while Spain remained discreet as US-mediated Sahara negotiations quietly accelerate in the Spanish capital.
Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf met his Spanish counterpart José Manuel Albares in Madrid on Saturday, February 7, 2026, during an official working visit aimed at relaunching bilateral cooperation between the two countries. According to a communiqué released by the Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two ministers reviewed the state of relations and discussed prospects for strengthening cooperation in key sectors including energy, trade, investment, transport, and judicial cooperation.
They also exchanged views on regional developments, particularly in the Sahel-Saharan region and the Euro-Mediterranean space. Algerian officials confirmed that the meeting forms part of preparations for upcoming high-level Algeria–Spain diplomatic engagements, including a future visit by the Spanish foreign minister to Algiers and the next bilateral high-level meeting between the two countries.
While Algiers published an official communiqué on the talks, Spain’s Foreign Ministry remained relatively discreet — a contrast that some observers interpret as reflecting ongoing diplomatic sensitivities between Madrid and Algiers.
Madrid becomes diplomatic hub for Sahara talks
The Attaf–Albares meeting took place as Madrid hosted renewed diplomatic activity around the Western Sahara dispute, with several international media outlets reporting parallel contacts and multilateral discussions involving regional actors.
According to United States-facilitated diplomatic sources and regional media, a new round of talks involving Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania and representatives of the Polisario Front has intensified in the Spanish capital in recent days.
Reports indicate that high-level delegations met in Madrid under US and UN facilitation to advance discussions toward a political solution to the long-running conflict.
Analysts note that bilateral meetings such as the one between Attaf and Albares often serve as preliminary diplomatic steps ahead of broader multilateral negotiations shaping the future of the disputed territory.
Terminology and messaging closely watched
The Algerian communiqué referred to developments in the “Sahel-Saharan region” and broader Euro-Mediterranean challenges without explicitly mentioning Western Sahara.
Some regional analysts and media commentators have interpreted this wording as a carefully calibrated diplomatic message as international negotiations intensify. However, no official shift in Algeria’s longstanding position on the Sahara issue has been formally announced.
Spain, for its part, has supported Morocco’s autonomy proposal for the territory since 2022, while Algeria continues to back the Polisario Front and advocates for a UN-led self-determination process — positions that continue to shape the diplomatic balance between the two Mediterranean partners.
The limited Spanish communication following the Madrid meeting has been viewed by some observers as an attempt to maintain diplomatic equilibrium amid ongoing regional negotiations.
A fragile but strategic rapprochement
The Madrid talks reflect a gradual normalization of Algeria–Spain relations after tensions erupted in 2022 when Madrid shifted its position on the Sahara issue. Recent meetings and economic recovery signals suggest both sides are seeking to restore strategic cooperation, particularly in energy and trade.
With Madrid hosting renewed diplomatic contacts on Western Sahara under US and UN encouragement, analysts say the Attaf–Albares meeting illustrates how bilateral diplomacy is increasingly intertwined with broader geopolitical negotiations shaping the future of the Maghreb.
Sources
- Algerian Foreign Ministry communiqué – Feb 7, 2026
- International diplomatic media reports
- US-facilitated Madrid Sahara talks coverage
- Regional diplomatic analysis
