ALGIERS, Algeria — Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune on Tuesday is beginning a three-day state go to to Russia meant to strengthen relations of “friendship and cooperation” on the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, authorities stated Tuesday.

The Algerian presidency stated in a press release that Tebboune will attend an financial discussion board to be held this week within the metropolis of St. Petersburg.

Putin’s invitation had been conveyed by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov throughout his go to to Algiers in May final 12 months with the goal of creating bilateral army, financial and humanitarian ties, and in different areas.

Some Algerian media have criticized the go to amid Russia’s battle in Ukraine.

“The timing is not at all appropriate, as this visit by the president could be understood as a bias in favor of Russia in its conflict with Ukraine, whereas officially, it has a position of neutrality,” the Maghreb Emergent web site wrote on Monday, elevating considerations a few potential “backlash” from Western nations.

Tebboune answered a query on the difficulty throughout his final look on public tv final month.

“Russia is a friendly country which helped our revolution and with which we have historic political, diplomatic and economic relations, but we also have good relations with the United States and the countries of the European Union,” he stated.

Gas-rich Algeria is in a fragile place relating to its long-standing ties to Russia.

With drastically much less capability, Algeria is more and more eyed by European nations trying to cut back their reliance on Russian power amid the battle in Ukraine. The North African nation has changed Russia as Italy’s No. 1 power provider.

Russia has lengthy provided Algeria with army gear.

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