Post-independence Relations
After Algeria’s independence on 5th July 1962, relations between Algeria and the United Kingdom experienced new developments and continued to strengthen. Algeria delivered its very first shipment of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to the United Kingdom in 1964, making it the first client to import LNG from Algeria.
In the early 1970s, as Algeria embarked on an industrial expansion process, British companies were awarded contracts to supply equipment, machinery and technological expertise.
In the 1980s, the United Kingdom was the second destination (after France) for Algerian students wishing to continue their studies or benefit from trainings abroad. In the early 1990s, the universities of Glasgow, Sheffield, Salford, Leeds and Nottingham had study programs with their Algerian counterparts in Blida, Tizi Ouzou, Constantine, Annaba and Oran.
Algerian-British relations were marked by the historic visit to Algeria by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, on 25-27 October 1980. She was received by the late Chadli Bendjedid, then President of the Republic of Algeria and gave a short speech in the National People’s Assembly / Parliament.
On the day of her arrival, Queen Elizabeth II made a visit to Mustapha Bacha Hospital in Algiers, where were treated victims of the tragic earthquake that struck El Asnam (now Chlef) on 10th October 1980.
Queen Elizabeth II received in Algiers by late President ChadliBendjedid – 25th October 1980
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philippe in a tour to Roman ruins in Tipaza – October 1980
President Abdelaziz Bouteflika made a state visit in the United Kingdom on 11-12 July 2006. It was the first visit by an Algerian Head of state to the UK since independence in 1962. It reflected the will of the two parties to give a fresh impetus to their bilateral relations.
President Bouteflika meeting with Prime Minister Tony Blair/ London – July 2006
President Bouteflika received by Queen Elizabeth II / London – July 2006
Since then, the diversification of areas of co-operation and the development of bilateral trade continued to have a positive impact on relations between the two countries, from which came the political commitment to further consolidate them. This resulted in Prime Minister David Cameron’s visit to Algeria on 30-31 January 2013, the first of its kind for a British Prime Minister since independence in 1962. This visit which would cover a broad spectrum of areas of co-operation, was an opportunity for the two countries to make their relations as strong as exemplary.