All Policy Analysis by Sabina Henneberg

Any future democratic renewal will require an entirely new movement that goes much further toward addressing the country’s deepest economic and social injustices.

To counter President Saied’s electoral manipulation and increased repression, Washington should work more closely with its contacts in Tunisia’s military, civil society, and European partner governments.

Moscow’s space cooperation with Tunisia could complicate U.S. attempts to develop norms for space travel, communication, and exploration.

The incumbent president is set to win another term, but shifting opposition politics at home and geostrategic realities abroad could raise bilateral bumps down the road.

The agreement has not led to the expected levels of economic growth, but Washington can still use it to bolster the bilateral relationship, encourage reform, and open up other markets in Africa.

A promising cross-Mediterranean initiative has run into political challenges, burdensome investment laws, methane leaks, and other hurdles.

Despite the country’s authoritarian turn and flirtation with Russia and China, Western officials are unwilling to risk valuable cooperation on immigration and security issues.

An opaque process and an apathetic electorate are among the reasons the contest does not warrant U.S. scrutiny.

By recognizing the limits of electoral processes in countries like Algeria, Libya, and Tunisia, Washington can focus more on addressing economic, social, and institutional challenges, managing regional dynamics, and engaging strategically with global competitors.

Washington can demonstrate its decisive edge in areas like climate change remediation and economic development, while highlighting the many dangers posed by partnership with Russia and China.

Twenty years after its last term, Algiers returns to make its mark, potentially affecting U.S. efforts on Gaza, Ukraine, the Western Sahara dispute, and more.

The Biden administration needs to tread carefully in engaging Algeria, since preserving UN negotiations on Western Sahara and protecting Morocco’s crucial relations with Washington and Israel are paramount to U.S. regional interests

The conflict will make it more difficult for Washington and Israel to preserve—let alone expand—the diplomatic progress they have made with North African governments in recent years, particularly as public opposition intensifies.

Washington may be tempted to defer Tunisia’s problems to Europe, but a new MOU risks perpetuating the country’s economic crisis and worsening the plight of migrants.

By involving Algiers in enhanced multilateral efforts, Washington can nudge it toward more effective strategies abroad while simultaneously improving Tunisia’s political and economic situation.

By standing up for human rights and taking concrete steps to support a receptive Tunisian public, Washington can help overcome its reputation for putting security and economic interests ahead of democratic ideals.

The North African country has maintained a close rapport with its traditional security partner, but a perpetual desire for balance and autonomy could offer opportunities for Western countries, including the United States.

Other countries that have restored democratic norms in recent years have seen progress in five distinct areas.

Washington may be tempted to give up after the country’s democratic backsliding; instead, it should take targeted, supportive actions that have worked in other cases.

Tunisia’s structural roadblocks, public skepticism, and ongoing domestic crises have combined to limit its relationship with China, leaving Beijing unable to jumpstart its typical large-scale projects and investments.