The illegal overflight of a Chinese weather balloon from the western to eastern seaboards of the United States between February 1 to 4, 2023 sparked political and media hysteria. After three days of one-upmanship between Republican and Democrat parliamentarians, relayed continuously by Fox News, the White House took a decision. The balloon, reportedly the size … Lire la suite de Public opinion against diplomacy
American challenge, European complacency
When one looks at the statements of the leaders of the major European countries or the institutions of the European Union (EU), one is struck by their high level of complacency. For a generation now, Europe has been making slower technological progress than America, but no one seems to be responsible. Worse, no one is … Lire la suite de American challenge, European complacency
Iran : the theocracy is consolidating
Having succeeded - with the involuntary help of America - in extending its influence over four capitals of the Arab world (Baghdad, Damascus, Beirut, Sana'a), the theocratic regime that has governed Shiite Persia for more than thirty years wished to consolidate itself. This is the meaning of the presidential elections it organised on Friday 18 … Lire la suite de Iran : the theocracy is consolidating
Biden-Putin: a common interest
Despite a few recent media-savvy jabs, there is no reason why the Geneva summit between the American and Russian presidents on 16 June 2021 should go badly. For, beyond their ideological differences, Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin have a common interest, which the former claims and the latter conceals: slow down the rise of China. … Lire la suite de Biden-Putin: a common interest
Biden, leader of a coalition of democracies?
The President of the United States is about to make a major trip to Europe. From 11 to 13 June 2021, he will attend a G-7 summit in Cornwall, where four other major democracies have been invited: South Korea, India, Australia and South Africa. On 14 and 15 June he will be in Brussels for … Lire la suite de Biden, leader of a coalition of democracies?
How to get out of the Lebanese impasse?
Lebanon is crying, even though it is a country blessed by the gods. Its mountainous territory is not large (the equivalent of two French departments), but it is breathtakingly beautiful - a sort of eastern Côte d'Azur. Its plains, irrigated and numerous, offer an agricultural potential equivalent to that of its southern neighbour, Israel. Its … Lire la suite de How to get out of the Lebanese impasse?
The European Union does not scare anyone!
When, on 10 September 2019, the President of the European Commission, the German Ursula Von der Leyen, installed her Vice-President, the Spaniard Josep Borrell, as High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, she said to him: "We must be a geopolitical Commission! ". Historically, under the influence of the German geographer … Lire la suite de The European Union does not scare anyone!
Benjamin Netanyahu’s tragic drift
Eight months ago, Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, achieved a brilliant strategic success. He signed, in Washington, the Abraham agreements with the United Arab Emirates, instituting an exchange of embassies and commercial cooperation between the Jewish state and this large Arab petromonarchy of the Persian Gulf. "I think we will soon see other Arab … Lire la suite de Benjamin Netanyahu’s tragic drift
The new israeli strategy in the Levant
Benjamin Netanyahu, who still leads the Israeli government, phoned Vladimir Putin to congratulate Russia on the anniversary of its May 9, 1945 victory over Hitler's Germany. This commemoration of the end of the "Great Patriotic War" has become the main official holiday in Russia. Israel is the only country that has recently built a monument … Lire la suite de The new israeli strategy in the Levant
Biden: diplomacy for the middle classes
Following in the footsteps of Ronald Reagan, Donald Trump's slogan was "Make America great again! " The motto of the new American president, Joe Biden, would be "Make the American middle-class happy again!" Deploying diplomacy that satisfies the American middle class is a stated goal of the Biden administration. Jake Sullivan, the new National Security … Lire la suite de Biden: diplomacy for the middle classes