Macron’s ‘red lines’ against Turkey reveals France’s neo-Napoleonic mission
Not since Napoleon stepped foot on the shores of Alexandria in July 1798, embarking
on his short-lived invasion of Egypt, has a Frenchman so imperiously sought to topple
a native regional power in the eastern Mediterranean while still appealing to the local
population.
population.
Under the name of “God, on whom all depends,” Napoleon appealed to the people and
the elites of Egypt by assuring that: “I come to restore your rights, to punish the usurper
s, and that I respect God, His Prophet Muhammad, and the Qur’an, far more than do
the Mamluks.”
the elites of Egypt by assuring that: “I come to restore your rights, to punish the usurper
s, and that I respect God, His Prophet Muhammad, and the Qur’an, far more than do
the Mamluks.”
He promised them self-rule away from the influence of foreign powers, stating that:
“All Egyptians will be called forward to manage all places. The wisest, most educated
and most virtuous of them will govern, and the people will be happy.” He did not tell
them, of course, that the French would be the overlords of that apparent self-rule for
four years, until the British forced them to retreat.
“All Egyptians will be called forward to manage all places. The wisest, most educated
and most virtuous of them will govern, and the people will be happy.” He did not tell
them, of course, that the French would be the overlords of that apparent self-rule for
four years, until the British forced them to retreat.
Over two centuries later, we now have President Emmanuel Macron who toured the
streets of Lebanon’s capital of Beirut, following the catastrophic explosion last month,
walking among the rubble and consoling the people. He assured them that their old
beloved France would save them from the blunders of a native, corrupt and incompetent
government, promising to send the Lebanese government a roadmap for reforms that
it would implement to get back on its feet.
streets of Lebanon’s capital of Beirut, following the catastrophic explosion last month,
walking among the rubble and consoling the people. He assured them that their old
beloved France would save them from the blunders of a native, corrupt and incompetent
government, promising to send the Lebanese government a roadmap for reforms that
it would implement to get back on its feet.
That draft proposal for reforms was recently sent to the Lebanese government and its
political blocs by the French embassy, consisting of a general outline of reforms needed,
regarding finance, international humanitarian aid, the construction of improved
governance systems, combatting smuggling and corruption, improving the electricity
sector and rebuilding Beirut’s destroyed port.
political blocs by the French embassy, consisting of a general outline of reforms needed,
regarding finance, international humanitarian aid, the construction of improved
governance systems, combatting smuggling and corruption, improving the electricity
sector and rebuilding Beirut’s destroyed port.
France even gave a time limit for those reforms to be implemented depending on their
importance, with limits ranging from one month to a year. And it did not finish there,
but also threatened Lebanese politicians with sanctions if the reforms are not
implemented on time.
importance, with limits ranging from one month to a year. And it did not finish there,
but also threatened Lebanese politicians with sanctions if the reforms are not
implemented on time.
Those reforms and their stated goals seem all well and good on the face of it, but
the paper has one underlying condition for Lebanon’s revival: France must lead t
he process. Paris will reportedly be playing a major role in the reforms, with its teams
being offered and deployed for the financial audit of the Bank of Lebanon, the
improvement of its healthcare, the setting of early elections and the rebuilding of the port.
the paper has one underlying condition for Lebanon’s revival: France must lead t
he process. Paris will reportedly be playing a major role in the reforms, with its teams
being offered and deployed for the financial audit of the Bank of Lebanon, the
improvement of its healthcare, the setting of early elections and the rebuilding of the port.
With the diplomatic and financial leverage, this leading role would give France – backed
up by the threat of sanctions – a position as the colonial power it once was, rather than
a nation in solidarity with another nation.
up by the threat of sanctions – a position as the colonial power it once was, rather than
a nation in solidarity with another nation.
Macron’s actions against Turkey – a local and native power in the region – is also a
cause for concern when it comes to France’s true intentions. Last week, he stressed a
“red-line policy” against Turkey’s assertion of its rights in the eastern Mediterranean,
choosing to side with Greece and its attempts to invade and severely limit
Turkish territorial waters.
cause for concern when it comes to France’s true intentions. Last week, he stressed a
“red-line policy” against Turkey’s assertion of its rights in the eastern Mediterranean,
choosing to side with Greece and its attempts to invade and severely limit
Turkish territorial waters.
When justifying his reasons for setting those red lines, he repeated the old colonial
notion that the Orient only respects strength and force rather than diplomacy. “I can
tell you that the Turks only consider and respect that,” he noted, ignoring the fact that
it is Turkey that has repeatedly been calling for negotiations, while Greece has
constantly refused to engage in them.
notion that the Orient only respects strength and force rather than diplomacy. “I can
tell you that the Turks only consider and respect that,” he noted, ignoring the fact that
it is Turkey that has repeatedly been calling for negotiations, while Greece has
constantly refused to engage in them.
Turkey has, of course, recognised France’s colonial manner and – although Turke
y has itself offered help to Lebanon and assistance in rebuilding its port – has spoken
out against it. In a press conference, following talks with representatives from Iraqi
Kurdistan, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu stated that: “We went to
Lebanon with a hospital and food supplies. Macron goes there in colonialist arrogance
looking down on everyone including the president. That is what France does
anywhere it goes. We went to Haiti and saw the same. France had looted the country.”
y has itself offered help to Lebanon and assistance in rebuilding its port – has spoken
out against it. In a press conference, following talks with representatives from Iraqi
Kurdistan, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu stated that: “We went to
Lebanon with a hospital and food supplies. Macron goes there in colonialist arrogance
looking down on everyone including the president. That is what France does
anywhere it goes. We went to Haiti and saw the same. France had looted the country.”
In recent months, France has already set out on its quest to influence the European Union’s foreign policy and swing it in favour of Greece, and against Turkey, regardless of the
consequences of taking such a stance. Macron’s ambitions may be more than that,
though, and his staunch anti-Turkey and anti-democratic stance towards the Middle
East and North Africa seems to be more than simple political posturing. What Macron
is displaying, is France’s neo-Napoleonic vision and worldview, one that prefers to
threaten and leverage its way across its former colonies and rivals, rather than tak
e the path of reliable diplomacy.
consequences of taking such a stance. Macron’s ambitions may be more than that,
though, and his staunch anti-Turkey and anti-democratic stance towards the Middle
East and North Africa seems to be more than simple political posturing. What Macron
is displaying, is France’s neo-Napoleonic vision and worldview, one that prefers to
threaten and leverage its way across its former colonies and rivals, rather than tak
e the path of reliable diplomacy.
In these efforts, Macron is taking an approach that is not far from his country’s old
imperial model – playing to the local people’s cultural values and icons in order to lure
them wilfully into France’s hands. This was clear from his meeting with the renowned
Lebanese singer and cultural figure Fairuz at the start of his trip earlier in the week,
awarding her the Legion of Honour.
imperial model – playing to the local people’s cultural values and icons in order to lure
them wilfully into France’s hands. This was clear from his meeting with the renowned
Lebanese singer and cultural figure Fairuz at the start of his trip earlier in the week,
awarding her the Legion of Honour.
With Lebanon’s neighbour Syria, France has also been playing according to its
expansionist and colonial ambitions, with French delegations having travelled t
o north-east Syria to meet with Kurdish militia representatives and members of the
People’s Protection Units (YPG) militia. Those meetings, as well as the French
provision of aid to Iraqi Kurdistan, were attempts to build relations with some
of the main players in a divided country and region, increasing its leverage over
the situation there.
expansionist and colonial ambitions, with French delegations having travelled t
o north-east Syria to meet with Kurdish militia representatives and members of the
People’s Protection Units (YPG) militia. Those meetings, as well as the French
provision of aid to Iraqi Kurdistan, were attempts to build relations with some
of the main players in a divided country and region, increasing its leverage over
the situation there.
Macron is attempting to make France a guarantor power and an intermediary in its
old colonies of Lebanon and Syria, and it would be naïve to expect its
neo-Napoleonic attempts to set red lines against regional powers to be
left unchallenged.
old colonies of Lebanon and Syria, and it would be naïve to expect its
neo-Napoleonic attempts to set red lines against regional powers to be
left unchallenged.
The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editoria
l policy of Middle East Monitor.
l policy of Middle East Monitor.
posted by Satish Sharma at
20:29
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