As the aftermath of the earthquake that struck Morocco in early September unfolded, one notable aspect of the response to the devastation was the geopolitical element of aid and disaster relief. Specifically, what drew attention was Algeria’s offer of assistance and whether it might signal an implicit desire to reduce tensions between the hostile neighbours. Yet, mistrust between the two continues to run high, and a single gesture of offering support is unlikely to undo decades of animosity. Moreover, while neither Morocco nor Algeria is likely to escalate the situation into an active conflict, both are able to gain domestic support, as well as geopolitical advantages, by leveraging their strained diplomatic relations. If addressed correctly, shared environmental challenges may offer a potential way out of this regional ‘tension game’.
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