Algeria Officially Joins ASEAN Treaty, Commits to Defending Peace and Rule of Law
KUALA LUMPUR – The Algerian Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs, National Community Abroad and African Affairs, Ahmed Attaf declared that Algeria’s accession to the ASEAN Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) marks a “significant milestone” in the country’s relationship with Southeast Asia, emphasizing shared values of peace, respect for international law, and a commitment to multilateralism.
Speaking during the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Minister Attaf expressed Algeria’s deep appreciation to the Government of Malaysia for hosting the ceremony and to all ASEAN Member States for their support of Algeria’s accession. “It is a great privilege for me to stand before you today, as my country has formalized its accession to the Treaty,” he said.
Attaf outlined three core motivations behind Algeria’s decision to join the TAC. Firstly, he praised ASEAN as a model of successful regional integration, describing it as an inspiration for similar efforts in other regions, particularly Africa. Secondly, he affirmed Algeria’s desire to strengthen its long-standing bilateral relations with ASEAN countries by adding a new multilateral dimension and reiterated Algeria’s aspiration to become a Sectoral Dialogue Partner. Thirdly, he underscored Algeria’s firm adherence to the principles of the Treaty—principles aligned with the UN Charter and at the core of Algeria’s foreign policy.
He also warned of troubling global trends, including the increasing resort to the use of force, open violations of international law, and the erosion of multilateral institutions like the UN Security Council. In light of these developments, Attaf reaffirmed Algeria’s commitment to work with ASEAN to promote diplomacy over confrontation, law over force, and multilateralism over unilateralism.
Concluding his address, Minister Attaf emphasized that only through cooperation, mutual respect, and the rule of law can nations build a peaceful and prosperous future. Algeria’s accession to the TAC, he said, is both a reflection of shared principles and a promise of deeper cooperation between Algeria and the ASEAN community.
