WASHINGTON — United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke by phone on Thursday with Algerian Foreign Minister Sabri Boukadoum, Ned Price, the spokesman of the US Department of State, said in a press statement.

“Secretary Blinken and Foreign Minister Boukadoum discussed further strengthening the bilateral relationship founded on shared values and mutual interests. They discussed opportunities to increase cooperation in Africa to promote economic prosperity and regional stability,” the statement read.

According to the statement, Blinken expressed his appreciation for Algeria’s role in fostering stability in the troubled Sahel region and war-torn Libya.

The United States and Algeria are alarmed by the threat posed by militant groups in North Africa and the Sahel, and Algeria is weighing a more active military role against them outside its own borders.

“The secretary commended Algeria’s economic and energy diversification efforts and its desire to attract more US businesses to Algeria, the spokesman said.

According to the statement, Blinken also said that the US is gratified to be the country of honor for Algeria’s 2022 International Trade Fair. Both reaffirmed the strength of the US-Algerian partnership.