PM David Cameron agrees ‘security partnership’ with Algeria

David Cameron has announced a deal has been struck with Algeria, following the Sahara gas plant hostage crisis

15:53 31 January 2013

UK Prime MinisterDavid Cameron said on Wednesday night that an agreement has been reached with Algeria, as he announced a “strategic security partnership” was made. This comes as the PM made a visit to the North African country.

 

The topic on the agenda was the threat of terrorism from al-Qaeda. The news follows the recent hostage crisis that took place at the Sahara gas plant in Algeria, where six British citizens lost their lives and around 37 others died.

 

Algeria’s President Abdelaziz Bouteflika confirmed the deal, saying that Algeria will work with Britain against terrorism.

 

Mr. Camerion said: “Both Britain and Algeria are countries that have suffered from terrorism and we understand each other's suffering.”

 

Adding that: “What we have agreed is a strengthened partnership that looks at how we combat terrorism and how we improve security of this region.

 

“This should be about sharing our perspectives, about the risks and dangers that there are, but also sharing expertise.”

 

He said that the idea was to help others to help themselves, with an emphasis being on protecting security.

 

The announcement comes one day after Britain deployed around 330 military personnel abroad, where support is being given to France with regards to their struggle against Islamist militants.

 

Mr. Cameron has said that the aim of the UK’s presence there is to train troops, having previously said Britain will not help with ‘combat troops’. There have been concerns from some however over ‘mission creep’.

 

This is the first visit made by a UK leader to Algeria in around half a century.