Maghreb Matters

Abstract

North Africa (the Maghreb) is a strategically important region for the United States. Its location at the mouth of the Mediterranean, on the southern shore of Europe’s “Rio Grande,” and at the Western end of the Arab world, and its prominence as an area of US interests in security, democratization, stability, development and cooperation make the Maghreb a region worthy of serious attention by the US Administration. Unfortunately, North Africa has often fallen through the cracks of US Middle East, African and European policies. Domestic constituencies concerned with the Middle East tend to focus on oil, the Middle East peace process, and Iran. Those concerned with Africa policy tend to concentrate on conflict issues affecting sub-Saharan Africa only. Those concerned with the Mediterranean tend to look to the northern shore and are content to leave the south to the European Union (EU). The absence of vocal domestic constituencies on Maghreb issues has contributed to the lack of a clear US policy focus. Yet the US Government should have a profound interest in North Africa because developments in the region impact significantly on our national interests.