Algeria and the United States of America share a long history of friendly ties that dates back to September 5, 1795, when the two countries signed the Treaty of Amity and Peace, a few years after the official recognition of the independence of the young American Republic by the State of Algeria (1783). Algeria was among the first countries that recognized the independence of the United States.

In 1860 in Damascus, the Algerian resistance leader El Emir Abdelkader saved from pogroms the lives of ten thousand Christians including the staff of the American consulate. President Lincoln honored El Emir Abdelkader as a great humanitarian for this achievement.

The city El Kader in Iowa which was named after him is the only town in the United States named after an Arab. The oldest permanent settlement established by Europeans in the United States was named after another great figure of the Algerian history: Saint Augustine. Santa Monica in California was named after the mother of Saint Augustine.

The two countries also share a love of justice and freedom and both their peoples have stood up to defend their sovereignty and liberty whenever they were threatened. Algeria and the United States have also supported each other in the name of the very principles that guided their revolutions.

Senator John F. Kennedy spoke passionately in support of Algeria’s independence when the country was under French colonialism and Algeria lent the full force of its diplomacy and political influence to secure the freedom of 52 Americans held hostage by Iran in 1979.

On January 20, 1981 the hostages were freed following an Algerian mediation hailed by the American authorities. The House of Representatives “conveyed its deep appreciation to the Algerian negotiators for the role which they played in resolving the crisis”.

Today, that spirit of friendship and cooperation is stronger than ever. When the United States came under attack in September 2001, Algeria was one of the first countries to offer its support to the US and continued to play a key role in the struggle against terrorism. It has been working since then very closely with the United States to eliminate the scourge of transnational terrorism.

Recognizing the difficult years Algeria faced as it fought its own long battle against terror‚ Then President George W. Bush paid tribute to our country and said the United States express their ¬´gratitude to Algeria for its abiding and outstanding cooperation in the global fight against terrorism.

President Abdelaziz Bouteflika visited the White House in July and November 2001, participated in the G8 Summit meeting at Sea Island, Georgia, in June 2004, and held meeting with then President Bush in New York in September 2005.

President Bouteflika welcomed President Barack Obama's election and said he would be glad to work with him to further cooperation between the two countries.

I have no doubt that you will put the energy and the tremendous assets of your country at the service of the promotion of the ideals of peace, progress and stability in the world said President Bouteflika in his congratulatory message to his American counterpart. In response, President Obama assured the Algerian President of his willingness to work with him in a spirit of peace and friendship to build a safer world.

The intensity of the cooperation between Algeria and the United States is illustrated by the number and frequency of senior-level visits made by civilian and military officials of both countries. Foreign Affairs Minister Mourad Medelci visited Washington on 7 and 8 December 2009, at the invitation of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Additionally to substantive talks with his counterpart on the state of the bilateral relations, and the deep dialogue and consultation on issues of major international political issues, including the Maghreb, the Sahel, the Middle East, the struggle against terrorism, conflicts in Africa, among others, Mr. Medelci held during this important visit meetings with numerous high officials of the U.S. State Department, among whom, Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman and Under Secretary of State for Economic, Energy, and Agricultural Affairs Robert D. Hormats.

This visit took place in the framework of the strengthening of the regular dialogue and consultation, as supported by the numerous recent visits to Algeria by American senior high officials, including Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman, Ambassador Vicki Huddleston, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Africa in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and the Commander of Africom, General William E. Ward.

Relations between Algeria and the United States have entered a new, dynamic and very promising phase and are stronger than they have ever been. While characterized by close collaboration on regional and international issues of mutual interest, ties between both countries are also defined by the significance and level of their cooperation in the economic area.

Today, Algeria is the largest trading partner of the United States in North Africa and ranks second in the Arab world and Africa. In less than five years, our volume of trade went from $3.3 billion in 2002 to over $20 billion in 2008.On the other hand, Algerian exports to the United States reached a record level of 18.64 billion dollars in 2008 making the US the largest client of Algeria in the world.

In April 2006, the United States designated Algeria a beneficiary country for duty-free treatment under the Generalized System of Preferences (GPS). The number of US corporations already active or exploring business ventures in Algeria has increased significantly over the past few years, reflecting growing confidence in the Algerian market and institutions.

Today, American companies are active in the areas of banking and finance, services, pharmaceuticals, medical facilities, telecommunications, aviation, seawater technology. Furthermore, an increasing number of US corporations from all sectors have been taking part in the annual Algiers International Trade Fair. Algeria is indeed a country rich in human and natural resources.

Today, its economic and financial performance holds great promises. It is a country with excellent financial health, huge assets in foreign reserves in excess of $146 billion dollars in early 2009, and a market that offers tremendous opportunities. With social peace restored, Algeria is now implementing a very ambitious reform and development program and earning praise from numerous independent international bodies.

Third largest producer of oil in Africa and fourth largest gas exporter in the world, Algeria is also the second recipient after Saudi Arabia of US investments made in the hydrocarbon sector in the Arab world. With supplies of petroleum products currently covering 5% of the US market needs and with plans to increase that share to 20% by the year 2015, Algeria is an important and reliable supplier of oil and liquefied natural gas to the United States and, in that capacity, plays an increasingly significant role in ensuring the security of America's energy supply.

The military relationship between Algeria and the United States has also been bolstered and cooperation between the militaries of both countries continues to grow. Numerous senior officers of the Algerian Army, including its Chief of Staff and the Secretary General of the Ministry of Defense, have made official visits in the United States. In May 2005, both countries conducted their first formal Joint Military Dialogue in Washington; the second military dialogue took place in Algiers in November 2006, and a third occurred in October 2008 in Washington DC.

Algeria has hosted US Navy and Coast Guard visits and took part with the United States in NATO joint naval exercises. Additionally, Algeria has been a key participant in the Trans-Sahara Counter-Terrorism Partnership (TSCTP), which involves other countries of the region as well.

The increasing level of cooperation and exchanges between Algeria and the United States has generated a number of bilateral agreements in numerous areas, including the Agreement on Science and Technology Cooperation, signed in January 2006. An agreement was concluded recently between the Government of Algeria and the Government of the United States, entering into force on November 1, 2009, pursuant to which the maximum validity for several categories of visas granted to Algerian citizens coming to the United States was extended to 24 months. A Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty and a Customs Cooperation Agreement will also be signed soon.

Experts from both countries are, on the other hand, currently engaged in negotiations and expect to reach agreements that would strengthen bilateral cooperation in a number of areas. The agreements being discussed include an Open Skies Treaty and an Agreement on Avoidance of Dual Taxation.

The Algerian-American relations hold tremendous potential and the promise for a larger and greatly consolidated relationship. The Governments of both countries are fully committed to taking their bilateral relations to a higher level and to give them the special character and quality that they deserve for the benefit of the Algerian and the American peoples.
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