Publication

This paper provides an overview of US interest in the Maghreb and whether or not it wishes to displace French influence in the region. The author attempts to answer whether it is true that the United States, through the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) and the Millennium Challenge Account seeks to undermine the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership (Barcelona Process). The principal assumption in this working paper is that the United States is undeniably interested in the area, which has become of strategic importance since the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001. However, although American interest in the Maghreb is real enough, it is less ambitious and less worrying for European interests, France's in particular, than one may be led to believe. The author concludes that, in fact, transatlantic relations in the area are more complementary than competitive.