The Russian Empire and the conquest of Algeria: diplomacy of silence and strategic choice

In the summer of 1830, French troops landed on the coast of Algeria, announcing the beginning of an invasion that would change the face of North Africa forever. France did not face any opposition to the occupation of Algeria from European countries, with the exception of Great Britain, which was considered a rival of France. And as a result of the French diplomacy that France followed before its invasion of Algeria, European countries largely supported the French occupation of Algeria. France was able to take advantage of the circumstances in which Europe found itself in the 19th century, especially after the Napoleonic Wars and their impact on European reality.France used all its human and material resources to get out of the economic, social and even political crisis in the light of international conditions. They were that each country sought to defend its own interests, mainly in the Mediterranean basin.While France invaded Algerian territory, Russia, a great power, was watching the events from afar, its position was complex and contradictory. Although Russia did not officially condemn the invasion, its reluctant reaction, mixed with caution and concern, raised questions about the real motives behind this apparent neutrality. This article attempts to make sense of this complex situation by examining the political, diplomatic, and economic context that shaped Russia’s decisions at this pivotal time in history.