Emmanuel Macron has decided not to participate in COP29 which opened this Monday, November 11 in Baku, Azerbaijan. The president preferred to send Agnès Pannier-Runacher, Minister of Ecological Transition, to represent France. A choice, which is part of a context of tense relations between France and Azerbaijan, mainly since the Azerbaijani offensive of September 2023 against the Armenian fighters of Nagorno-Karabakh.
This military intervention, which led to the recapture of the region by Azerbaijan and the departure of more than 120,000 Armenian civilians, sparked strong condemnation from France. Paris has taken concrete measures to support Armenia, by strengthening its military cooperation and adopting a posture of solidarity in the face of Armenian demands.
This positioning annoyed the Azerbaijani government, which responded by leading a diplomatic and media offensive. The Azerbaijani press regularly denounces France's position, and anti-French speeches are multiplying in the local media. In addition, Baku has been accused of encouraging certain independence movements in France, particularly overseas, adding a complex dimension to tensions between the two countries.
A summit marked by geopolitical rivalries
Despite calls from French political figures, such as Anne Hidalgo, Laurent Wauquiez and Yannick Jadot, for a total boycott of COP29, France finally decided to participate in the discussions. Agnès Pannier-Runacher will be present in Baku to represent France during the final phase of the negotiations, scheduled between November 21 and 24.
“It is up to us to defend the objectives of the Paris agreement. The COP is an essential multilateral negotiation for the climate, which brings together all the countries of the world,” she recalled, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a dialogue, even in a difficult context.
A largely shunned COP
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Macron is not the only leader to boycott the summit. The German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, as well as the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, also decided not to make the trip. These absences weaken COP29, while climate issues are crucial. Laurence Tubiana, director general of the European Climate Foundation and former architect of the Paris agreement, called the boycott “regrettable”.
According to her, the absence of several prominent leaders compromises the dynamics of the conference and could have consequences for COP30, scheduled for Brazil next year. This anniversary will mark ten years of the Paris Agreement, an event where climate commitments will need to be strengthened and updated.
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