Will France End Alliance with US and Join Hand With Russia-China?
Centuries old French – American relations have been generally peaceful and important for both countries. France was the first ally of United States due to its 1778 treaty of alliance and military support In the American Revolutionary war. The alliance fought two great wars, World War – I and World War – II in 20th century and claimed victory. In the 21st century difference over Iraq war and diplomatic differences in 2003 soured the relations between two countries. After, Donald Trump took office of the President of US and Emmanuel Macron was elected as the President of France, the gulf between two old allies widened.
France will start pivoting away from longstanding US alliance and will enter into a new alliance with Russia and China.
French President Emmanuel Macron met Russia’s Vladimir Putin near Paris on Monday, May 29, 2017, just two weeks after taking the office.
Macron said, that the dialogue with Russia is vital in tackling a number of international disputes that includes backing opposing sides in the Syrian civil war and Ukraine conflict.
Macron told reporters at the end of the G-7 summit on Saturday, May 27, 2017 , that “It’s indispensable to talk to Russia because there are a number of international subjects that will not be resolved without a tough dialogue with them,”. He added, “I will be demanding in my exchanges with Russia,” .
After they emerged from talks that went on for almost an hour longer than schedule, Macron said they had a “frank exchange” and both men stressed they had agreed to move forward on issues such as Syria and Ukraine.
Before the meeting on Monday, May 29, 2017, Alexander Orlov , Russia’s ambassador to Paris said that he expected this first meeting between the two men will be marking the beginning of “a very good and long relationship”.
The young and reformist French leader differ with the US President Donald Trump over a number of international issues including Syria and Iran Nuclear Deal. France is a member of US led coalition in fight against Islamic State.
Speaking during a live TV interview on April 16, 2018, Mr. Macron said: “Ten days ago, President Trump was saying ‘the United States should withdraw from Syria’. We convinced him it was necessary to stay for the long term.”
After April 7, 2018, the Chemical attack in Syria’s Douma, In a telephone calls with Mr. Trump, Mr. Macron also said he “persuaded him that we needed to limit the strikes to chemical weapons [sites], after things got a little carried away over tweets”.
Western allies (US, UK and France) did limited and precise air strikes on chemical weapon sites of Syrian government on April 14, 2018 for which French President was accused of compromising the independence of a country that famously stayed out of former US President George W Bush’s 2003 invasion of Iraq.
Florian Philippot, president of new political party Les Patriotes, said, “President Macron is reducing our country to the role of subordinate partner to the Americans… The French people… must rise up against this belligerent action by President Macron, who is becoming more and more to Donald Trump what Tony Blair was to George W. Bush.”
Mr. Macron talked to Russian President Vladimir Putin on the eve of attack on Syria, and hinted that they were imminent. After air strikes Mr. Macron said he still wanted dialogue with all parties, including Russia, to try to find a political solution and would go ahead with a planned trip to Moscow next month.
On Monday, April 23, 2018, nine days after airstrikes on Syria, Macron went to Washington for the first state visit where both leaders discussed about issues such as Syria, North Korea and Iran Nuclear Deal.
Emmanuel Macron spoke over the telephone to US president Donald Trump on Tuesday, May 8, 2018 and discussed the matter of peace and stability in Middle East, hours before Trump announced his decision to withdraw from Iran Nuclear deal on Tuesday, May 8, 2018, and imposed sanctions on Iran that caused the rift between Washington and its European allies deepen.
Thereafter, France’s economy minister Bruno Le Maire urged European nations on Friday to defend themselves against US sanctions targeting firms that trade with Iran.
Le Maire told Europe 1 radio “We have to work among ourselves in Europe to defend our economic sovereignty,”. He added, “Europe should not accept that the U.S. is the world’s economic policeman.”He told Le Parisien newspaper “We feel that the extraterritoriality of their sanction measures is unacceptable,”
“Do we want to be vassals who obey decisions taken by the United States while clinging to the hem of their trousers?” Le Maire asked. “Or do we want to say we have our economic interests, we consider we will continue to do trade with Iran?”
Emmanuel Macron met Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg, Russia, on Thursday, May 24, 2018 in a bid to salvage the Iran nuclear deal abandoned by US earlier this month. Both Leaders tried to find out common ground on issues such as Syria, North Korea and Ukraine.
Moreover, the Iran issue marks the first time that Russia, France and Germany agree on such a matter in years.
At a news conference with French President Emmanuel Macron, Putin said, “The North Korean Leader did everything that he had promised in advance, even blowing up the tunnels and shafts of the country’s nuclear test site, after which we heard about cancellation of the summit by United States”, Japan Times reported.
Macron signaled to attend some of the world cup soccer matches in Russia this summer. He said, “Because I am an optimist by nature, I can say with assurance that I probably will come to support our team in several weeks”.
France will continue to trade with Iran even after sanctions imposed by US on Iran and will retaliate for the tariffs on European goods and sanctions on European firms imposed by US. Ultimately, France will pivot away from longstanding alliance with US and will enter into a new alliance with Russia and China.
