French President Emmanuel Macron is in Algeria, one of the world's biggest gas producers, for his second official visit since he took office. The trip, billed as a diplomatic visit, will likely also see an attempt by the French to strike a new gas deal with their Algerian counterparts.

Leading a 90-strong delegation of ministers, business leaders and sports personalities, President Macron will attempt to "deepen the countries' bilateral relationships - with a view towards the future" and "reinforce Franco-Algerian cooperation in the region and to continue to heal the divisions of the past", according to the Elysee palace.

The relationship between Algeria and the Macron administration has been fraught, with both sides clashing over the legacy left by Algeria's war of independence.

In 2021, Macron described Algeria as a militaristic country, accusing it of "cashing in on memories" of France's colonial past. In response to the comments, Algeria recalled its ambassador to Paris and banned French military jets from Algerian airspace.

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and President Macron are also visiting a monument to the victims of the country's war for independence and hold a number of bilateral meetings.

Macron will also meet with young entrepreneurs in Algiers before heading to Oran, in the west of the country on Friday, to visit a record store famous for its role in promoting Rai music.

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Despite the cultural visits, the trip will undoubtedly have economic undertones, with the French delegation eager to secure additional gas supplies from their Algerian counterparts.

Last month, Algiers announced that it has signed a $4 billion deal to provide 4 billion cubic meters of natural gas to Italy, a 113 percent increase from what Algeria had earmarked for Italian export.

A possible bargaining chip for French diplomats could be the ongoing disagreement over the number of visas that France is issuing to Algerian nationals. In autumn 2021, Paris halved the number of visas for Algerians, in response to what it viewed as insufficient cooperation by Algerian consulates in deporting Algerian nationals who had been expelled from France. Paris could capitalise on the fact that Algiers is eager to see visas numbers return to previous levels.

Despite the three-day charm offensive being geared towards a "lasting rebuilding" of Franco-Algerian relations, Paris will undoubtedly be hoping for Algeria's assistance in the face of the energy crisis.