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Latest update: 25/03/2011
- France - Libya - Muammar Gaddafi - Nicolas Sarkozy
With Libya response, France takes high-stakes step into spotlight
After faltering in its response to uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia, France emerged as a surprisingly robust diplomatic force in dealing with the Libya crisis – even if the approach has left some people scratching their heads.
Earlier this winter, France was widely criticised for sleepwalking through popular uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia.
But only weeks later, while a crisis pitting Libyan anti-government rebels against forces loyal to the country’s leader Muammar Gaddafi seemed to stump the international community, France has emerged as a surprisingly active diplomatic force.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy was the most vocal advocate of a no-fly zone over Libya, and France was the first Western power to recognise the Libyan opposition. Friday morning, in the wake of a UN resolution authorising “all necessary measures” to protect Libyan civilians from attacks by Gaddafi’s forces, French authorities were saying military action could be imminent.
As decisive as France has been on the Libyan front, the manner in which it emerged as leader of the interventionist camp has left some – including certain members of Sarkozy’s own cabinet – scratching their heads.
France ‘sticks its neck out’
Dismal approval ratings and a series of much-publicised French gaffes in response to the anti-regime movement in Tunisia are thought to be likely factors providing motivation for Sarkozy to appear authoritative and presidential on the international stage. French elections will take place in May 2012, and Sarkozy is thought to be eager to boost his public standing before launching a re-election campaign.
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Still, certain elements of the French response have left political circles puzzled. Just one day after a senior government official stated that “France recognises states, not parties” on March 9, an announcement arrived that France would recognise the Libyan Transitional National Council (the body composed of anti-Gaddafi rebels) as “the legitimate representative of the Libyan people”. Underscoring this new stance, France would also send an ambassador to Benghazi, the rebel stronghold in eastern Libya.
“In recognising the rebels, France stuck its neck out,” said Eugene Rogan, director of the Middle East Centre at Oxford University. “Especially since Sarkozy seemed not to be consulting any of his EU partners or the US on this decision.” Indeed, reports from sources close to the Elysée say newly appointed Foreign Minister Alain Juppé and other top-level French diplomats were not aware of the move in advance.
For Rogan, the decision reflects the character of the current French president. “President Sarkozy is a very unpredictable man,” Rogan noted. “He has an idiosyncratic way of doing things and can be very spontaneous.”
Risk and reward in French stance?
The French stance is especially surprising, according to Rogan, because it “doesn’t seem to be based on any pre-existing French positions in Libya”. France was “doing well with Libya before”, counting the country as a client of the French arms industry (Libya purchased French Mirage jets). “And I’ve seen nothing to suggest that there was an oil deal cut with Libya that would benefit France,” Rogan added.
Others see the French stance in a more straightforward light. As Jean Dufourcq, director of research at France’s Military Academy, said: “France follows the idea that it must intervene once a population is being attacked by its leader.”
In any case, France’s decision to recognise Libyan rebels put the country on a potentially risky diplomatic path that it has managed to navigate all the way to Thursday night’s UN resolution. “Sarkozy’s move put pressure on France to secure international support for its position,” Rogan explained. “Otherwise it would have been isolated in trying to stop Gaddafi.” The role France may or may not have played in rallying US President Barack Obama and other leaders to its cause remains unclear.
Friday afternoon, Libyan Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa announced that Libya was declaring an immediate cease-fire and stopping all military operations in line with the UN resolution. France, for its part, reacted with caution. “He [Gaddafi] is now starting to be afraid, but on the ground the threat has not changed,” a foreign ministry spokesman told reporters.
It is therefore too early to say if France’s moment in the spotlight will turn into a moment of glory.
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Comments (30)
libya and Sarkozy
I think Sarkozy is right.The world would have been helpless seeing Ghadafi smolder my people in Libya without challenge.
Democracy must be restored and people's will obeyed .Again UN must not forget the west African state of Gbagbo/Gwatara.
libyan fiasco
I think the coalition forces should go ahead with the immense air strikes against Gadaffi,we Africans are tired of autocratic leaders thus we the needs transformation;.
End of west ern power
History is repeating itself for the aggression against Libya under the UN resolutions implementation by the western Imperialist and NATO is the sign of the fall of UN in the same way Lague of Nation Colapsed. Ban Kim Moon is representing American and Western Interest. The Libyan war we will all join. As Gadaffi said I believe it is second coming of Colonilist to reconqer Africa. Attacking Libya Is Attacking core of Africa. STOP STOP Attacking Libya
Libyan War
The USA doesnt know what we are doing in Lybia and why. Our Man-Child President Obozo is beyond logic now.
Libya
Viva France and God bless Sarkozy keep keep up the good job.
useless advertising
taking position and heading into Lybian crisis just shows Sarko is looking for advertisement.Long time that he hasn't been seen into media, for the shit he used to say or do. what a great mistake he did by starting what he said freedom war. I think it will lead to a total failure, even civil war later, affect also other unstable african countried in this region
Nicholas Sarkozy
Nicholas Sarkozy now has to go to Yemen,Cameroon, Syria Bah rein and y Nicholas Sarkozy did not went to Egypt or Tunisia
Viva la France
Finally some action from the French . My compliments .
You should never be afraid to act especially not if it is justified . Send in your troops . Dont be afraid . be proud , you're saving people from a butcher
France
Sir, as aregular traveller to the Middlea East & North Africa, I am sorry to inform you the double startegy of France & EU & US in the region is spreading hatered amongst the people. on one hand EU & US attack Libya. On the other hand we close our eyes on killings giong on in Bahrain and Yeman and Saudi.
This is WRONG policy and in the long term EU & US wil be the losers & Chinese and Russuians will be the winners.
For god sake , You Politiciens , open your eyes and ears and show a uniform strategy.
Carol
UK
France Steps Up
I already applauded president Sarkozy on his firmness dealing with the raising of the retirement age and now I salute him for his stance against Gaddafi murdering his own people;Without him taking the early stance, I'm certain the USA,UK,Denmark,Canada,Italy,Spain and Belgium wouldn't have followed until too late. Now that Germany has been exposed as a "Paper Tiger" that won't carry it's fair share of the burden of protecting democracy and innocent people, I hope my country removes all our forces stationed there(all 35,000+) as we are tired of protecting western Europe from the dreaded Soviets. Viva la France!
Sarkozy is a bad imitation of
Sarkozy is a bad imitation of Napoleon: picking battles that he is sure to win. The guy jumped to the opportunity to improve his bad domestic polls and perhaps to achieve French control over at least part of the Libyan oil. But this still can come back to bite him, once he actually doesn't know much about the rebels France is supporting. By the way there are not peaceful civilians in this history. What we have is an armed opposition to the rule of Gadaffi, and US, UK and France have decided to take side in this internal conflict. That is the reality.
Love Sarkozy
Sarkozy you are the man.god bless you and French people for their sacrifices.I have a lot of respect for you and what you are doing to help the Libyan people.love man you re my hero.
Karim
Bravo France
I'm proud of France, proud of Sarkozy. Whether anyone thinks this is for oil or other political reasons or not, the bottom line is that Gaddafi is a tyrant and the Libyan Rebels deserve help after their fight for liberation. The western powers are supposed to stand for democracy, and we do. Salute to Sarkozy and the participating western powers. Free Libya!
Josh
Maryland, USA
Sarkozy aka SirCrazy is the
Sarkozy aka SirCrazy is the biggest fool that thinks he is President.What makes you hink you can invade another country for Oil? Think twice so that the lesons of Iraq,afghanistan is not repeated
Bravo! France, Bravo!
Bravo! France, Bravo!
France as always after
France as always after African oil.
air strikes, tantamult to going too far
i think that France and other international community do not really like Gadafi and is using this crises as an excuse to vent anger.well i think Gadafi can sit with his country men and together,they will solve the problem,no need for France to strike with air strikes
Viva France! Kudos to
Viva France!
Kudos to President Sarkozy!
Once again, French has shown the world that they are truly a superpower.
Henry
California, USA
Vive La France!
France is standing at the forefront of this noble international effort to stop a madman from murdering his own people. To President Sarkozy and the proud people of France, I salute you.
libya
at last the people that deserve help ,are now better late than never getting diplomatic, and military support .justice will be done, after lockerbie,this is a good start to rid us all of another tyrant. lookout robert mugabey its about time he got the same treatment. good luck to the people of libya and safe return of all military ,god speed their return.
Here we go again
Another Big Stuped step by America ! We never learn, how dumb are those ass's in Washington, to get into another Scrape in a foriegn country. Let Germany, Italy do the dirty work, they are the ones getting the oil. No-one helped in our civil war. Stay the Hell out of other countries civil battles. Spend the money on our own Starving, Broke, Homeless Americans. Our Bamkrupt country can't afford anything like this! Our Politicians are "NUTS"
Can there be a link to the
Can there be a link to the French action, the fact that the President is so low in the polls...? By the way, any link to tomorrows elections?
Finally!
Thank you France for taking action!!
God Bless the brave pilots and all those enforcing this just action!
the end
All these revolutions may be the begining of the end of the rule of Western powers over the world.China may not be in this game and then win the prize.let us watch...
hypocracy
Fr govt. spokesman Baroin calls Gaddafi a "terrorist dictator". When did he discover this? I mean this French govt has been banging down the doors tos ell Gaddafi weapons including anti-aircraft Crotal missiles from what I read. Why cannnot you journalists calls out these hypocrites when they say such things?
This attack on Libya has nothing to do with democracy nor protecting people nobody cared about untilo a month ago. "It's the oil, stupid!"
Libya
Press release an address on Libya will be posted on face book: Felix Pps Ipp Carrasquillo Jr. -- Myspace: Phylistic, you tube phylistic
humanitarian
And what about Yemen and Bahrein?
Very dignifying and courageous!
Recognizing the National Council as the true goverment is very courageous and dignifying for president Nicholas Sarkozy and should be followed by as many democratic and human rights respectful nations in the World as posible
Merci ,president Sarkozy ,in the name of all peace and democracy loving people in the World!
France recognizes Benghazi Rebels; Tripoli declares "cease fire"
Perhaps someone from the Elysee recalled that it was a French Navy that was largely responsible for victory by the American General Washington long ago. For a public still in recovery from recent denial of access to fuels and oils, to have an ally in the export of oil would be most helpful for economic reasons. To assist an ally to remove a tyrant would align France to its history. As for the "pronouncement of cease fire"
it is just that. It is highly disputed by one member of the rebel council who was last located in Misratah. According to the news(CNN)the forces of Gaddafi are shelling the town(18MAR2011).
It is not clear if the hits are from ground or by air.
French self interest
The french government has been annoyed with libya for a while (cf. 10PARIS144 etc.), whereas it had strong ties with tunisian and egyptian economic and political powers. This can explain the recent action. The fact that the population is being attacked has nothing to do with this.
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