Secret documents lift the veil on British fury over France’s refusal to support the Iraq war in 2003, revealing deep divisions between London and Paris. A fascinating dive into the mysteries of diplomacy…
New revelations have just emerged on tensions between London and Paris over the war in Iraq in 2003. Freshly declassified British archives shed light on the extent of the resentment of Tony Blair’s government towards France, and in particular the President Jacques Chirac, following French opposition to military intervention.
London’s ire in the face of the French vet
According to minutes of government meetings at the time, obtained by the British National Archives, Prime Minister Tony Blair and his cabinet were outraged by the French position. London believed that Paris had “ undermined the UN mechanism » by refusing to support a resolution authorizing military action if Iraq did not comply with UN demands.
We did everything we could, but the French were not prepared to accept that military intervention would follow if Saddam Hussein did not comply with UN obligations.
Tony Blair, according to the archives
The Minister of Foreign Affairs at the time, Jack Straw, went so far as to directly accuse Jacques Chirac of having “torpedoed” the UN process with the strategic aim of “ create a divide » between France and the United Kingdom. Straw saw in the French president’s attitude a desire to assert himself as ” leader of a bipolar world » in opposition to the United States.
UK Committed Despite Opposition
Despite French refusal and strong opposition from British public opinion, Tony Blair chose to join the United States in the invasion of Iraq launched on March 20, 2003, without a UN mandate. . The Labor government justified this war by the alleged presence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, which were never found.
Records show that London at the time considered itself ” motivated by a worldview promoting justice, good governance and pluralism“, thus setting itself apart from other Western governments. But the intervention in Iraq and the conflict which followed took a serious toll on Tony Blair’s popularity.
Blair Expresses “Regrets” But Takes Responsibility
In 2016, an independent investigation report concluded that the Prime Minister had deliberately exaggerated the threat posed by the Iraqi regime. Tony Blair then expressed “pain, regrets and apologies” but maintained that the world was safer without Saddam Hussein and that the war was justified.
These archives lift the veil on the intensity of the diplomatic crisis between two historic allies. They illustrate the deep differences of views on this controversial conflict, revealing wounds that took time to heal. A significant episode which continues to weigh on the legacy of the leaders of the time.
