On Friday 9 October 2020, the French Republic was in a state of complete turmoil to welcome, in front of the television cameras, the hostage Sophie Pétronin, freed the day before by jihadists from North Mali. The aid worker had been kidnapped on 24 December 2016 by a group linked to Al-Qaeda. France had sent … Lire la suite de Let’s renounce the presidential hostage reception!
What is Erdogan looking for in the Caucasus ?
In his speech at the inauguration of the huge ultra-modern hospital in Konya, a city located in the heart of the Anatolian plateau, 300 kms south of Ankara, on October 2, 2020, Recep Tayyip Erdogan could not resist the pleasure of indulging in a geopolitical digression. The almighty president first of all renewed Turkey's support … Lire la suite de What is Erdogan looking for in the Caucasus ?
What dynamics after the Israeli-Emirati peace?
Signed at the White House on 15 September 2020, the Abraham Accords are two new peace treaties between Israel and Arab countries, the United Arab Emirates and the island of Bahrain. After the normalisation with Egypt in 1979 and with Jordan in 1994, here are two new Arab states with which Israel, the leading technological … Lire la suite de What dynamics after the Israeli-Emirati peace?
Russia Shoots Itself In The Foot
On 6 September 2020, the German government issued a quasi-ultimatum to the Kremlin: either you explain what happened to your opponent Navalny, who was poisoned by a military nerve agent comparable to the one administered in England to the former double agent Skripal by two GRU officers in March 2018, or we will consider asking … Lire la suite de Russia Shoots Itself In The Foot
I don’t see a saviour in Joe Biden
The American presidency that is coming to an end has undeniably weakened the transatlantic link that has bonded the United States and the great democracies of Western Europe since the end of the Second World War. Donald Trump has not only expressed doubts about the validity of Article V of the NATO Charter (which provides … Lire la suite de I don’t see a saviour in Joe Biden
The red lines of the Belarusian revolution
It feels like the end for President Lukashenko of Belarus, who has been in power since 1994. The autocrat massively defrauded the presidential election of August 9, 2020 to claim a favourable result of 80% of the vote. The opposition is growing steadily in this country of ten million inhabitants, the size of a third … Lire la suite de The red lines of the Belarusian revolution
Enshrining Lebanon’s neutrality!
The gigantic explosion which, on Tuesday 4 August 2020, blew up the installations of the port of Beirut and heavily damaged the old Christian quarters, is an additional tragedy for Lebanon, already the victim of a serious political and financial crisis. For once, this destruction is not due to war. Responsibility for it lies with … Lire la suite de Enshrining Lebanon’s neutrality!
The Unfortunate Mania for International Sanctions
On 30 July 2020, the Council of the European Union (EU) adopted sanctions - a travel ban and assets freeze - against individuals and state bodies from Russia, China and North Korea who have engaged in cyber attacks against European companies or institutes. In theory, such a decision is welcome. This is the first time … Lire la suite de The Unfortunate Mania for International Sanctions
The Green Europe of Teddy Bears
In Brussels, on 21 July 2020, after long and hard negotiations, the leaders of the European Union (EU) Member States adopted an economic recovery plan unprecedented in the history of the old continent. Based, for the first time, on common debt, it provides for €750 billion in loans and grants to EU economies. The European … Lire la suite de The Green Europe of Teddy Bears
The Sino-Iranian alliance, a major turning point
Xi Jinping, president for life of the People's Republic of China, is a strategist. He acts with a long time horizon. His supreme goal is to place his country in first place in the world by 2049, in order to celebrate with dignity the hundredth anniversary of the capture of the Middle Kingdom by the … Lire la suite de The Sino-Iranian alliance, a major turning point