French President Emmanuel Macron cautioned against double standards in international conflicts, including those in the Middle East and Ukraine, during the opening of a summit for francophone leaders on Friday.
Macron emphasised the potential for French-speaking nations to contribute significantly to global peace efforts, despite analyses suggesting that France’s global influence, particularly in Africa, is diminishing.
The French president also highlighted the need for a consistent approach to all global conflicts, insisting that there is no room for double standards, where all lives are valued equally.
Macron expressed concern regarding Israel’s military actions in Lebanon against Hezbollah, describing the number of civilian casualties as absolutely shocking. He remarked that Lebanon, a former French colony, is currently shaken in its sovereignty and peace amid escalating tensions. He reiterated that lasting peace in the Middle East hinges on a viable two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians.
While referencing the need for a peaceful region in the Indo-Pacific, Macron indirectly alluded to China, asserting that no power should undermine regional stability.
The leaders convened at a chateau in Villers-Cotterêts, northeast of Paris, before moving to the French capital for the Francophonie summit, which marks its return to France after 33 years. Attendees included a range of leaders, from Democratic Republic of Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Macron’s remarks come in light of France’s declining influence in Africa, highlighted by recent coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger that saw pro-French governments replaced by juntas increasingly aligned with Russia. Notably, these new governments were not invited to the summit.