VT Foreign Policy

French President Emmanuel Macron thought he could defeat the far-right parties in his country by bringing forward early parliamentary elections, but it did not turn out the way he expected, and now, the political force led by Marine Le Pen, could end up in a ruling coalition, according to the renowned French sociologist Didier Fassin. […] #Europe #Government #UkraineWar #WarZone Read Full Article: https://www.vtforeignpolicy.com/2024/06/macrons-risky-strategy-failed-frances-political-future-turning-right/?feed_id=12931

Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini criticised French President Emmanuel Macron for pushing the idea of sending European troops to fight in the conflict in Ukraine. Salvini’s comments were made on the same day that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov once again warned that French soldiers operating in Ukraine would be legitimate targets. “Italy is not at war with anyone. Macron, do you want to start a war? Put on a helmet, put on a vest and go to Ukraine, but don’t bother the Italians! Go and fight, but don’t bother us, people who want to live in peace,” Salvini […] #Europe #UkraineWar #WarZone Read Full Article: https://www.vtforeignpolicy.com/2024/06/salvini-slams-macron-ukraine/?feed_id=12395

French opposition leader Marine Le Pen criticised President Emmanuel Macron for his statements regarding the possibility of sending troops to fight in Ukraine and accused him of wanting to feed his ego. Her verbal attack on the French president comes as news emerges on the deployment of the Foreign Legion to Ukraine, with the corps potentially already suffering casualties. In an interview with BFMTV and RMC, Le Pen said that Macron had not given a true image of the conflict in Ukraine and stressed that the French president wants to send forces to Eastern Europe for personal reasons. “In reality, the Government, our political adversaries, have […] #Europe #Government #UkraineWar #WarZone Read Full Article: https://www.vtforeignpolicy.com/2024/05/marine-le-pen-macron-wants-to-deploy-soldiers-to-ukraine-to-feed-his-ego/?feed_id=11947

Contrary to previous claims that NATO has no operational plans for Ukraine, former US Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Stephen Bryen claims that France already has boots on the ground in Ukraine. His revelation comes as NATO has hypocritically outlined two red lines that would justify intervention in the Ukraine War even though France has already committed troops and has thus escalated the conflict without provocation. “France has sent its first troops officially to Ukraine,” said former US Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Stephen Bryen in an article published by Asia Times. Bryen further wrote that forces were […] #Europe #UkraineWar #WarZone Read Full Article: https://www.vtforeignpolicy.com/2024/05/macron-deployed-french-foreign-legion-to-ukraine-claims-former-us-official/?feed_id=11895

Several opposition parties have attacked the proposal by French President Emmanuel Macron to share French nuclear weapons with the European Union. Macron’s controversy follows another recent one in which the erosion of France’s sovereignty and the legacy of Charles de Gaulle were highlighted in the most ironic way. During a speech on April 28, Macron stated that the EU needs a common defence strategy and that French nuclear weapons could be a key component. According to him, this would provide the security guarantees that Europe expects and would also allow for neighbourly relations with Russia. Macron stressed that a “credible […] #Europe #Government Read Full Article: https://www.vtforeignpolicy.com/2024/04/opposition-parties-slam-macrons-idea-to-boost-european-defence-with-french-nuclear-weapons/?feed_id=11659

In a new threat of war, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said that his country “cannot sit idly by” as France, India, and Greece supply weapons to Armenia. However, his justification for issuing a new threat of war is hypocritical since Azerbaijan has invested much more in its military compared to Armenia after turning to Turkey, Pakistan and Israel for weapons. The South Caucasus is clearly becoming a flashpoint for these competing blocs. “We cannot sit idly by while France, India, and Greece arm Armenia against us. They are doing this openly and demonstratively, obviously trying to prove something to us […] #Military #WarZone Read Full Article: https://www.vtforeignpolicy.com/2024/04/aliyev-says-azerbaijan-cannot-sit/?feed_id=11515

Iran’s attack on Israel over the weekend was the grimmest proof yet that French President Emmanuel Macron’s diagnosis of the security challenges facing the European Union is correct, Bloomberg reported on April 16 in an article titled “Macron’s Push to Arm Europe Is Getting More Urgent — and More Dangerous.” The French leader’s problem, however, is that he has not yet achieved the support of French voters in the face of his hardline position to escalate a conflict with Russia by sending French troops to Ukraine. On the contrary, he has attracted the antipathy of some allies, both at home […] #Europe Read Full Article: https://www.vtforeignpolicy.com/2024/04/macrons-push-to-arm-europe-getting-more-dangerous/?feed_id=11223

Back in late October 2017, Russia donated six MiG-29 fighter jets to Serbia. Less than a year and a half later, Belarus did the same, donating four aircraft of the same type. This was a major boost for Belgrade, as it previously had only four (three of which were airworthy) MiG-29 fighter jets that survived NATO aggression in 1999. Moscow’s and Minsk’s military aid was instrumental in preserving the Serbian Air Force and Air Defense (RViPVO), as it brought the number of operational fighter jets to 14, an increase of 250%. Serbia paid for and conducted the modernization, bringing all jets to the MiG-29SM+ […] #Europe #Featured #Government #Military Read Full Article: https://www.vtforeignpolicy.com/2024/04/rafale-jets-for-serbia-wise-geopolitical-move-or-disastrous-waste-of-money/?feed_id=11027

The meeting between Emmanuel Macron and Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was an attempt by the French president to obtain the support of his Brazilian counterpart in favour of Ukraine. However, although French-Brazilian bilateral ties were advanced during Macron’s visit to Latin America’s biggest country on March 26-28, Lula reinforced his country’s neutrality in the Ukraine conflict. At the same time, disputes over the Mercosur and European Union agreement—another point of divergence between the two leaders—also showed no progress. Macron and Lula were photographed smiling in the city of Belém, where they agreed to raise more than $1 billion for […] #Europe #Government #SouthAmerica #UkraineWar #WarZone Read Full Article: https://www.vtforeignpolicy.com/2024/04/macrons-visit-to-brazil-failed-to-change-lulas-position-on-ukraine/?feed_id=10655

In the last several weeks, French President Emmanuel Macron has been blowing hot and cold about his country’s direct involvement in Ukraine. While he’s been insisting that sending troops “should not be excluded”, French authorities haven’t been as determined. In fact, several high-ranking officials have tried playing the “words taken out of context” card, but Macron’s rather emotional outbursts of belligerence effectively nullified such efforts, putting the said officials in hot water as they were still trying to keep the diplomatic lines of communication with Russia open. Initially, Moscow was quite lenient and encouraged its “partners” in Paris explain themselves. However, French diplomacy not only failed to […] #Featured #UkraineWar #WarZone Read Full Article: https://www.vtforeignpolicy.com/2024/03/in-case-of-either-tactical-or-strategic-clashes-with-russia-france-would-lose-both/?feed_id=10295

by Ahmed Adel, Cairo-based geopolitics and political economy researcher The French government intends to build an alliance with the Baltic countries that agree with the proposal to send troops to fight against Russia, according to Politico. However, the fact France is working with the minnow states of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia to send troops to Ukraine is a demonstration of the failure to materialise support in major EU countries, such as Germany and Italy. According to an article in the American magazine The Atlantic published on March 9, the French Foreign Minister, Stéphane Séjourné, made the proposal during his meeting in […] #Europe #Featured #Government #UkraineWar #WarZone Read Full Article: https://www.vtforeignpolicy.com/2024/03/italy-blasts-france-and-poland-for-wanting-to-send-troops-to-ukraine/?feed_id=9851

by Ahmed Adel, Cairo-based geopolitics and political economy researcher Bleak economic prospects further hurt France’s fragile economy, but President Emmanuel Macron still insists on prioritising assistance for Ukraine and pursuing anti-Russia agendas rather than dealing with the ever-increasing problems in his own country. French Economy and Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire reduced the country’s economic growth forecast to 1% in 2024 and announced that the Macron government would cut spending, estimated to be about €10 billion, in all ministries and in some programs to compensate for the drop in productivity and to meet obligations to reduce France’s budget deficit by 4.4% in 2024. “The principle […] #Europe #Featured #Government #UkraineWar #WarZone Read Full Article: https://www.vtforeignpolicy.com/2024/02/macron-prioritises-ukraine-despite-downgraded-economic-recovery-outlook-in-2024/?feed_id=9223

On January 16, Russian military sources reported that a missile strike was launched at the headquarters of a group of foreign mercenaries in Ukraine. Reports indicate that the targeted personnel were mostly French military contractors and that the precision strike resulted in at least 80 casualties, of which over 60 were KIA (killed in action). The sources further posit that the neutralized personnel were highly trained specialists whose assignments involved specific Western-made weapon systems that regular, forcibly conscripted Ukrainians are simply not trained to handle. Russian military sources also indicate that the strike put some of the most effective long-range weapons in […] #Featured #UkraineWar #WarZone #World Read Full Article: https://www.vtforeignpolicy.com/2024/01/french-mercenaries-obliterated-in-kharkov-bad-omen-for-nato-personnel-in-ukraine/?feed_id=8404

When I awoke, I went to the outsized double windows of Orage’s loft like room that served as a combination, living room, dining room and kitchen. The sun was shining, and a chilly wind was whipping down the alleyway below. Wares were set in front of stores, and tables were already set out for the cafés. The French, an attractive people who are rarely overweight, streamed in a constant two-way procession, some were carrying bread others seemingly just out for a stroll, many trailed children, dogs or both. Orage with the red decor of BlackRock’s café in the background We […] #Life Read Full Article: https://www.vtforeignpolicy.com/2023/12/france-iv-by-jack-heart-jon-valentine-lee/?feed_id=7716

As the disastrous exodus of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh (known as Artsakh to indigenous Armenians) is in its last phases, the Sorosite Nikol Pashinyan seems more determined than ever to ensure the same fate for Armenia proper. His tilt toward France is a futile attempt to get at least one Western power interested enough to get involved on the side of Armenia, or at least that’s what it seems like on the outside. However, the harsh reality is that Pashinyan has managed to make Yerevan more isolated than ever before, a fact that’s being used to the maximum by its […] #Featured #World Read Full Article: https://www.vtforeignpolicy.com/2023/10/pashinyan-doubles-down-on-his-suicidal-tilt-toward-increasingly-impotent-west/?feed_id=4292

by Ahmed Adel, Cairo-based geopolitics and political economy researcher Former vice president of France’s National Front and president of Les Patriotes, Florian Philippot, said in a social media post that it is necessary to “stop supporting the Nazi excesses of the Kiev regime” following the double scandals of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s honouring of a Nazi and his backing of anti-India Sikh separatist forces, known as Khalistanis. Philippot, in a post on X about Trudeau and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, wrote: “These two recently honoured a former Waffen-SS soldier in the Canadian Parliament! An old Ukrainian Nazi. Now, they are trying […] #Featured #World Read Full Article: https://www.vtforeignpolicy.com/2023/09/french-politician-wants-suspension-of-western-aid-following-trudeaus-nazi-and-khalistan-scandals/?feed_id=4087

by Ahmed Adel, Cairo-based geopolitics and political economy researcher Former vice president of France’s National Front and president of Les Patriotes, Florian Philippot, said in a social media post that it is necessary to “stop supporting the Nazi excesses of the Kiev regime” following the double scandals of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s honouring of a Nazi and his backing of anti-India Sikh separatist forces, known as Khalistanis. Philippot, in a post on X about Trudeau and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, wrote: “These two recently honoured a former Waffen-SS soldier in the Canadian Parliament! An old Ukrainian Nazi. Now, they are trying […] #Featured #World Read Full Article: https://www.vtforeignpolicy.com/2023/09/french-politician-wants-suspension-of-western-aid-following-trudeaus-nazi-and-khalistan-scandals/?feed_id=4042

Morocco is an emerging nation with an efficient police and military force, massive earth-moving equipment and a sense of community that is exemplary. #Featured #World Read Full Article: https://www.vtforeignpolicy.com/2023/09/marrakesh-earthquake-death-toll-rises-while-morocco-refuses-aid-from-numerous-nations/?feed_id=3510

According to Pashinyan’s “logic”, France will get into a confrontation with Turkey, one of its NATO allies, for the sake of Armenia, a country nearly 3,500 km away that can reach Yerevan only through neighboring Georgia. This is without even taking into account the troubles Paris is going through as its neocolonial system in Africa is faced with unprecedented unraveling. Drago Bosnic, an independent geopolitical and military analyst Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan seems to be a “gift that keeps on giving”, although the only problem is that the beneficiary is anyone but Armenia. On the contrary, with his coming […] #Featured #World Read Full Article: https://www.vtforeignpolicy.com/2023/09/breaking-ties-with-russia-and-refocusing-on-france-could-destroy-armenia/?feed_id=3346

After more than four years of Nazi occupation, Paris is liberated by the French 2nd Armored Division and the U.S. 4th Infantry Division. #History Read Full Article: https://www.vtforeignpolicy.com/2023/08/paris-liberated-nazi-occupation/?feed_id=2958