According to Christian Lequesne, professor at Sciences Po and specialist in European and diplomatic issues, France would benefit from strengthening its ties with its European partners and the United States to make its voice heard vis-à-vis Russia.
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While Emmanuel Macron spoke on the phone Friday, January 28 with Vladimir Putin about the Ukrainian crisis, there are “a French illusion” to believe that the Russians listen to us more, warns on franceinfo Christian Lequesne, professor at Sciences Po and specialist in European and diplomatic issues.
For Christian Lequesne, this illusion is linked to “our Gaullist heritage (…) this particularity of not being completely in the Western camp while being there”which would give the idea “that the Russians listen to us more”. The specialist in European issues evokes the invitation of Vladimir Poutine to Versailles in May 2017 by Emmanuel Macron, then his statement “on reinventing the security and trust architecture.”
Local brands that have brought nothing to international issues for Christian Lequesne: “In Syria, the Russian regime supports Bashar more than ever and especially in Africa, we have obvious competition in areas that were traditionally areas of French influence, with the dispatch of mercenaries from the Wagner group, first of all in Central African Republic and now in Mali.”
“I think that in the current situation, we must first bet on solidarity with our European partners and also with the United States”insists Christian Lequesne, “We have an interest in facing Putin to appear as being strong on the side of the West (…) It is the only way to be heard with regard to him.” Especially since at the same time, “there is clearly a desire on the part of Moscow to marginalize the Europeans”specifies the specialist, while the Russians only want to deal with the United States on the Ukrainian file.