The American press recently revealed Joe Biden's decision to authorize Ukraine to use American long-range ATACMS missiles to target targets on Russian territory. In the process, numerous publications and articles claimed that France and the United Kingdom had also decided to authorize the use of their Scalp missiles, aligning themselves with the position of the United States.
Most of these publications, widely relayed in pro-Russian networks, affirm that the daily Le Figaro would be the source of this information.
The Scalp are long-range missiles developed by France and the United Kingdom, several dozen of which have been delivered to Ukraine. They are called “Storm Shadow” in their British version.
FAKE OFF
France has not radically changed its position after the revelations made by the American press. Last May, Emmanuel Macron announced that he was in favor of using Scalp missiles against targets located in Russia, as reported by French media. Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot also reacted to this subject on Monday, indicating that the use of missiles on Russian territory remained “an option”, adding “therefore, nothing new under the sun”.
Had the green light really been given by France? “With the declaration of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, we see that France is in a kind of strategic ambiguity” analyzes Stéphane Audrand, international risks consultant and reserve officer. “We have not seen any video or photo that would suggest a strike into deep Russian territory with a Scalp or Storm Shadow. So usage is difficult to estimate. »
For the specialist, it is likely that France did not actually want to go it alone. “On very strategic and potentially escalatory subjects on the nuclear level, there is specific coordination in what we call the P3, that is to say the three Western nuclear powers: the United Kingdom, France and the United States. Often, we see that Paris, London and Washington are aligned in their behavior. »
The door open to future use?
Some analysts also argue that the presence of American components in French and British missiles would have allowed the United States to veto their use. “It is possible that France delivered Scalps with American components. But it is not easy to establish whether the regulations give the Americans the right to prevent re-export, or whether they allow limits on use. More than a kind of legal blockage, in my opinion it is rather the P3 alliance which is at stake. There is no need for there to be American components in the missiles for us to be able to this level of refusal and that we instead take the path of negotiation. The idea is also not to show a front that would be disunited,” says Stéphane Audrand.
In the same way, “it is indeed possible that France and the United Kingdom will follow the United States now that they have accepted,” continues the specialist. “There is also a question of national pride for Paris and for London. We can't immediately say 'President Biden said yes so for us it's yes'. There is a need for everyone to have their own time to communicate.”
What did the Figaro article say?
The source cited by the different publications, Le Figaroactually published an article on this subject on Sunday, of which a passage on French missiles was updated. As can be seen in an archived version of the article in question, it initially read: “The French and British had authorized Ukraine to strike deep into Russian territory with their SCALP/Storm Shadow missiles. Joe Biden, after several months of pressing requests, gave his agreement to Volodymyr Zelensky to use American ATACMS missiles…”.
The article therefore did not assert, contrary to what publications on social networks suggested, that France would have immediately aligned itself with the American position.
