Emmanuel Macron presented his foreign policy priorities in 2025 to French ambassadors on Monday January 6, against the backdrop of multiple crises in the world, from Ukraine to the Middle East via Taiwan.
Returning, among other things, to the controversial trade agreement between the European Union and the South American countries of Mercosur, the president assured that the “mass is not said” regarding the conclusion of the agreement.
“Mass has not been said (…) We will continue to forcefully defend the coherence of our commitments“, he insisted in front of the French ambassadors gathered at the Élysée.
On the eve of the start of the electoral campaign for the chambers of agriculture, farmers are converging this Monday towards Paris to protest against free trade agreements, against unfair competition, including intra-European competition, and against controls on farms.
Interventions against terrorism in Africa: “We forgot to say thank you”
France had “raison“to intervene militarily in Africa”against terrorism since 2013“, but African leaders have “forgot to say thank you“, the president declared on Monday, estimating that”none of them would be with a sovereign country today if the French army had not deployed“.
“It doesn't matter, it will come with time“, quipped the French president during the annual meeting of French ambassadors. “No, France is not in decline in Africa, it is simply lucid, it is reorganizing itself“, he pleaded.
Iran, “main strategic and security challenge” in the Middle East, says Macron
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that Iran constituted the “main strategic and security challenge” in the Middle East, and would be a priority issue in the dialogue he will engage with the new American administration of Donald Trump.
The French head of state also called for “look without naivety at the regime change in Syria“, and promised not to abandon the Kurdish fighters allied with the West in the fight against terrorism, in a speech to the French ambassadors.
“Iran is the main strategic and security challenge for France, the Europeans, the entire region and well beyond“, Mr. Macron said. “The acceleration of its nuclear program brings us very close to the breaking point“, he added.
Emmanuel Macron also denounced Tehran's involvement “in Russia's war against Ukraine”, son “support for dangerous groups on all areas of confrontation in the Middle East” or even “its attempts to deploy in Africa“. “In this context, the Iranian question is undoubtedly one of the main ones on which we will re-engage in dialogue with the new American administration.“, he concluded.
On Syria, France will support “over time“the transition in favor”of a sovereign Syria, free and respectful of its ethnic, political and confessional plurality“, and undertakes to stay”faithful” to “freedom fighters, like the Kurds” who fight terrorism and in particular the jihadist organization Islamic Statehe stressed.
The first steps of Ahmad al-Chareh, leader of the radical Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) which led the coalition that seized Damascus, are being closely scrutinized.
The heads of French and German diplomacy, Jean-Noël Barrot and Annalena Baerbock, met the country's new leader on Friday and pleaded for a peaceful and inclusive transition.
The meeting was the first at this level between officials of the major Western powers and Ahmad al-Chareh, who took the reins of the country on December 8, after the flight of President Bashar al-Assad, in power for more than 20 years.
A “very significant risk” of “regression” of the climate agenda
French President Emmanuel Macron has warned of a “very significant risk” of “regression” in the collective effort to protect the environment and fight against global warming with the return of Donald Trump to the White House.
“At the same time, President Trump threatens to withdraw from these agreements (environmental, editor's note) and uninhibitedly resumes massive production of fossil fuels“, he noted in front of the French ambassadors gathered at the Élysée. “And therefore there is a very significant risk of a regression in our agenda in the coming months“, at-il having you.
European defense: “we have to go much faster and much stronger”
Europeans must go “much faster and much stronger” to strengthen their defense industry in the face of rising threats, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday.
“The question is whether Europeans want, for the next 20 years, to produce what will be necessary for their security or not.“, car “if we depend on America's defense industrial and technological base, then we will have cruel dilemmas and culpable strategic dependencies“, he insisted on the occasion of the conference of French ambassadors meeting in Paris.
Ukrainians will “have to hold realistic discussions on territorial issues”
Emmanuel Macron said Monday that the Ukrainians would have “to lead realistic discussions on territorial issues“, car “only they can lead them“, to find a settlement to the conflict caused by the Russian invasion in 2022.
“The United States of America has to help us change the nature of the situation and convince Russia to come to the negotiating table“, while the Europeans will have to “build security guarantees“for Ukraine”who will be their primary responsibility“, said the French president during the annual meeting of French ambassadors to outline the main lines of his foreign policy.
