Could There Be A North African Nuclear Arms Race In The Near Future?

Since Iran announced to restart its nuclear research program in 2007, Algeria, Egypt, and Morocco have dramatically increased military spending. In addition to increasing military spending, Algeria, Egypt and Morocco have all announced their intentions to seek nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

Egypt’s ambassador to the United Nations, Maged Abdel Aziz, even announced that Egypt would not be a second class citizen within the Middle East in terms of nuclear weapons. With the recent electoral success by the Muslim Brotherhood and past calls, by their leadership, for acquiring nuclear weapons, Egypt appears to be on the road to nuclear capability. Such a move by Egypt could drive Algeria towards nuclear weapons. Algeria’s attempts to become a North Africa hegemony has been seen through recent attempts to exert influence over economic issues in Mali and Algeria’s support for the Polisario in the Western Sahara dispute with Morocco. Given the tensions between Morocco and Algeria, Morocco’s increased military spending, and recent nuclear pursuits, it is possible that Morocco could follow both Egypt and Algeria in seeking nuclear weapons.