"Polaris 21" Are Morocco and Algeria at the center of the conflict between Russia and America?

The navies of six NATO countries conducted the largest military maneuver in the western Mediterranean in years, coinciding with similar training conducted by Russia and Algeria there. Which refers to the possibility of transferring the American-Russian quarrels to the region, which is already under tension between the two Maghreb neighbors.

The navies of the United States, Britain, France, Spain, Italy and Greece conducted the largest naval maneuvers in the western Mediterranean region in years. These maneuvers, which came under the name "Polaris 21", lasted for two weeks, from November 18 to December 3 this year, a day after the launch of another naval exercise conducted by the Russian and Algerian forces.

While these military moves from both sides come amid the Russian-Western strategic competition over the western Mediterranean, and the escalating tension between Moscow and Washington, after the latter accused the former of preparing a land invasion of Ukraine. This puts the region at the center of the conflict between these two global powers, which is mainly living on the impact of a conflict between the two neighbors, Morocco and Algeria.

Maneuvers race on the western Mediterranean

More than 22 warships participated in the "Polaris 21" maneuver, including the French aircraft carriers Char de Gaulle, 13 frigates in addition to the warships that were anchored at the entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, and submarines, including one French nuclear. In the air, 60 combat aircraft, dozens of helicopters, and the American "AWACS" and "Orion 8" sensor planes were participating. In addition to more than six thousand soldiers from the eight participating countries.

According to the website of the French Army, the importance of the maneuver lies in “raising the readiness of engagement on multiple levels and battlefields simultaneously,” all in an environment “paralyzed by cyber-attacks, disruption of radio communications and the spread of false news that could affect military operations and their strategic objectives.”

The maneuver included scenarios simulating an attack by the military forces of a country called "Mercur" and indicated in red, on another country whose army was indicated in blue. And he wrote the French site "to Otiligram" that " the quality of gear by the user Merkur power is not owned only by Turkey or Russia." He suggested that what is meant by the scenario is Russia, which is often indicated in red, dating back to the Soviet era, as well as because it is the only one that has war capabilities and a military presence off the Euro-Atlantic shores.

The Russian Navy, whose forces were present near the place of the exercise, and monitored its progress. She was also conducting a maneuver with her Algerian counterpart that began on November 17th.

A maneuver that comes, according to a statement by the Algerian Ministry of Defense, within the framework of “the embodiment of the Algerian-Russian bilateral military cooperation for the year 2021.” It included “tactical maneuvers and exercises to intercept and storm suspicious ships, combat enemy boats, in addition to search and rescue and assistance at sea, and aims to exchange experiences and enhance joint coordination.” ".

According to the Russian media, a flotilla consisting of the frigate "Admiral Grigorovich", the patrol ship "Dmitry Rogachev" and the rescue boat "SB-742" from the permanent assembly of the Russian Navy in the Mediterranean Sea participated in these naval military maneuvers. Analysts believe that Russia, through it, seeks to "prove its presence" in the regions of the Western Mediterranean and Africa in general.

Rabat and Algeria at the heart of international competition

Last November, the Pentagon agreed to hand over the Patriot air defense system to Morocco. The deal adds to another $4.25 billion arms package for Moroccan forces, including 36 AH-64 Apache heavy attack helicopters and other associated weapons and maintenance equipment. The American and Moroccan forces also conducted joint maneuvers, most notably the "African Lion" last June.

In return, Russia provided Algeria with highly advanced missile systems for submarines, which only seven countries in the world have. It was tested during the joint naval maneuvers "Deterrence Boat 2021" last September near the Moroccan border. Where missiles and torpedoes were thrown to bombard targets on the surface of the sea, "the target was successfully destroyed," according to a statement published by the Algerian News Agency.

While the Moroccan online newspaper, Hespress, said, "It is not excluded that Algeria, in light of these conditions in which it is living, will allow the establishment of a Russian military base on its territory." A Moroccan strategic expert commented to the same source that the establishment of a Russian military base in Oran "means a disruption of military balances in favor of Russia at the expense of Europe, which results in a change in the rules of engagement."

Observers see the existence of a major Russian-Western race over the extension of strategic influence in the western Mediterranean and North Africa, which is an extension of their great rivalry, which expands to include many points of contact between them around the world. This rivalry, which in the case of the Mediterranean is based on the escalation that exists between the two neighboring countries, Algeria and Morocco.