France Suspends 2007 Visa Agreement with Algeria After Refusal to Repatriate Nationals, Retailleau Vows Graduated Response

Paris, March 17, 2025, 6:30 PM PDT – French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau announced the suspension of the 2007 agreement exempting Algerian diplomatic passport holders from visa requirements, following Algeria’s refusal to accept the return of approximately 60 of its nationals deemed dangerous. The move, detailed in a statement on X and during a France Inter interview, signals escalating tensions between Paris and Algiers, with Retailleau promising a “graduated response” to the diplomatic standoff.

Je regrette que l’Algérie refuse d’appliquer le droit international.

Comme l’a décidé le Comité Interministériel sous la présidence du Premier Ministre, une riposte graduée sera engagée. — Bruno Retailleau (@BrunoRetailleau) March 17, 2025

Background and Immediate Action

The decision stems from Algeria’s rejection of France’s requests to repatriate its citizens, including individuals linked to security threats, such as the February 2025 Mulhouse knife attack, which killed a police officer, and the detention of Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, raising concerns in Paris. Retailleau, in a post on X at 6:21 PM PDT, expressed regret over Algeria’s non-compliance with international law, stating, “As decided by the Interministerial Committee under the Prime Minister’s leadership, a graduated response will be launched.”

The 2007 agreement, allowing Algerian diplomatic passport holders visa-free entry to France, was suspended as the first step in what Retailleau described as a phased retaliation. This follows his February 26, 2025, warning to Algeria to accept deportees or face consequences, reported by Politico.eu. Posts on X, like @FranceDiplo’s, frame the move as a necessary response, while @AlgeriePatriote criticized it as “intimidation.”

Diplomatic Standoff and Escalation

Retailleau’s stance reflects a hardening of France’s position, amid broader tensions with Algeria over issues like France’s July 2024 recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, prompting Algiers to recall its ambassador. The Algerian Foreign Ministry issued a sharp rebuke, rejecting “threats, intimidation, injunctions, and ultimatums,” as reported by Le Monde and shared on X by @MAE_Algerie.

In his France Inter interview, Retailleau emphasized, “We expected Algeria’s response. It means Algiers does not respect the 1994 agreement,” referring to a bilateral pact on migration and security. On X, users like @EuroSecurityNow supported his firmness, while @DzNewsToday warned of further diplomatic fallout. Retailleau’s team clarified he would remain in office “if the decisions taken are respected,” countering speculation of resignation, as noted in Le Parisien.

Context and Regional Implications

The suspension comes amid a series of incidents straining Franco-Algerian ties, including the Mulhouse attack by an Algerian national under an OQTF (Obligation to Leave French Territory), killed after stabbing a police officer, per Le Figaro. Sansal’s detention in Algeria, reported March 10, 2025, by Reporters Without Borders, added to Paris’s concerns about Algiers’ cooperation on security and human rights.

Web results, such as Euronews (January 2025), detail Algeria’s refusal to repatriate nationals, prompting France to consider broader visa restrictions, as Retailleau hinted in Le Parisien. Algeria’s 12.2% share of immigrants in France in 2023, per INSEE, underscores the stakes, with Paris seeking to curb irregular migration and Algiers resisting pressure.

Retailleau’s Firm Line

Since taking office in September 2024, Retailleau has positioned himself as a hardliner on immigration and security, aligning with President Macron’s rightward shift, per France24. His “graduated response” could include further visa curbs, trade measures, or diplomatic sanctions, though specifics remain unclear. Posts on X, like @InteriorFrance’s, emphasize his resolve, while critics such as @LeftVoiceFR question the impact on Franco-Algerian ties.

Looking Ahead

As of 6:30 PM PDT, Algeria has not responded officially, but the standoff risks deepening a rift rooted in colonial history and recent geopolitical shifts. The 2007 visa suspension, while symbolic, could escalate into a broader diplomatic crisis, with Morocco watching closely amid its own tensions with Algiers, per a March 2025 Al Jazeera analysis on North African rivalries.