“France has been giving lessons to everyone for 40 years, without necessarily having the means,” says Thibault de Montbrial

As the saying goes, speech is silver, but silence is gold. And when it comes to positioning yourself on the international scene, sometimes you need to talk less and act more. This is what Thibault de Montbrial puts forward. Guest of the Grand Rendez-vous Europe 1/Cenws/Les Echos, the president of CRSI, the think tank on internal security, returned to the impact of France's voice in the war in Ukraine, but also in general. And he doesn't mince his words.

“We need to act more than talk”

“France has been giving lessons for 40 years to everyone without necessarily having the means and that is one of the reasons why there is such a divide between the West and the rest of the world.” And the lawyer clarifies his thoughts, particularly on the multiple changes in France's positions on international issues over the years: “The 'at the same time' in the sovereign field cannot work. We must have convictions, you have to have a backbone, you have to have red lines, you shouldn't talk too much. These are areas where you have to act more than you talk.”

A “lack of height” and “determination” which France lacks, and which have “contributed to our losing a lot of influence”.