- October 5, 2024
- 4:21 pm
- World News
French President Emmanuel Macron called on the French-speaking world to “come to a common understanding of the events in Ukraine and other regions of the world.”
Macron warned the international community against “double standards” regarding armed conflicts such as the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. He stressed that the French-speaking world must work together to defend the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity on the planet.
Relevant statement he made on Friday October 4, 2024 at the Francophone Leaders' Summit.
Macron expressed confidence that the French-speaking world can become a unified diplomatic force, upholding the values of sovereignty and territorial integrity. He noted that the French-speaking world is talking about Ukraine, which is faced with aggression and a threat to its territorial integrity from Russia. Macron stressed that in this shared vision there should be no room for “double standards” and all lives should be equal when dealing with conflicts around the world.
The French President also noted that peace in the Middle East is impossible “until Israel and Palestine reach an agreement on the existence of two separate states.” Macron has been a critic of Israel's actions in both Palestine and Lebanon, the latter of which was a French colony. The French leader called for maintaining peace and stability in the region.
The “Francophone World”, known as “Francophonie“(French l'Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF)), unites a number of countries and regions where the French language has official or dominant status. These countries include France, Belgium, Switzerland, Canada, Senegal, Cote d'Ivoire, Republic of Congo and others.
France uses its historical and cultural ties to increase its influence in the world. However, several coups d'état in francophone Africa in recent years have weakened these efforts, leading to the rise of pro-Russian military governments.
What is he talking about?
Emmanuel Macron's statement on the need for a “common understanding” among francophone countries on global conflicts such as the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East should be seen as part of France's efforts to reassert its geopolitical influence. This desire is linked to France's desire to regain its status as a global player, drawing on its historical and cultural heritage. Through the French-speaking community known as La Francophonie, Macron is trying to consolidate former colonies and regions historically linked to France to bolster his diplomatic strength.
France, which has lost much of its influence in Africa in recent years due to coups and growing pro-Russian sentiment in some countries, is looking for a way to regain its influence. Macron’s calls for “common values” of sovereignty and territorial integrity can be seen as an attempt to contrast himself with Russia, whose interests are increasingly manifested in Africa and the Middle East.
Macron’s strategy is connected with the desire to return France to its former power, because historically France played one of the key roles on the world stage. Now, as conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East attract global attention, Macron wants French-speaking countries to act as a united front to not only defend common interests, but also restore France to its former geopolitical importance.
