As early as the day after his appointment, he was seen in Kyiv and in Berlin the day after that. He also made a stop in Warsaw and praised the relevance of the «Weimar» format. Very well, but France's foreign policy is not that of the European Union, nor of Germany. Are these truly our vital interests?
He was also seen touring the Middle East, but apart from a few unflattering photos, what were the concrete results? As a reminder, under Jacques Chirac, France's role was pivotal in resolving crises in the Middle East: during Operation Grapes of Wrath launched by Israel in Lebanon (April 1996), the French president had decided to send his Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hervé de Charrette, to the region immediately with the mission «to obtain a cessation of hostilities and to seek arrangements guaranteeing the safety of populations on both sides of the Lebanese border.» Which he achieved by spending nearly two weeks shuttling between capitals. Despite American obstruction, France played a major part in the resolution of the crisis and was involved in monitoring the ceasefire.
Then Stéphane Séjourné went to Argentina (his birth country) to congratulate himself that a President to say the least eccentric, Javier Milei, is anchored to the «Western bloc». What is the point? And what significant terminology! To then say exactly the opposite the next day in Brazil «those who artificially want to divide the North and the South bring no solution to our common challenges». Why in that case speak of a Western bloc? And in Gaza, is France playing a mediating role between the North and the South? Absolutely not! What did he think of Lula's thunderous outburst comparing the massacres in Gaza to the methods used by the Nazis? We will never know, as we are reduced to «selfie diplomacy».
Is a trip to Senegal planned? In this country, which holds a special place for French diplomacy, nothing is on the horizon.... And what about the Maghreb countries, which should be a priority? Will the visit to Morocco, announced «in a few days» by the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, actually take place?
It is really hard to understand the relevance of the stated priorities and the concrete results of these trips…
It is now much clearer why Stéphane Séjourné is so keen to secure a winnable spot on the «Renaissance» list for the European elections! Belt and braces...
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