Free Republic

French President Emmanuel Macron speaking with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian last week repeating US-Israeli talking points about Iran possessing nuclear weapons or long-range missiles. Mr. Macron injected himself into the Israeli offensive against Lebanon and the Iran-aligned Hezbollah movement. France is a former colonial power in Lebanon... President Trump signaling this disagreement with French President Emmanuel Macron on the Iran War also noting: "He'll be out of office soon" But Mr. Trump did give France's overall policy on the Iran War... But for France and its European allies the Ukraine War remains a priority this week France enforcing economic sanctions...

The Western Alliance was already fraying long before the joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran began earlier this month. But the collective refusal of European leaders to even entertain the idea of assisting the U.S. in keeping the Strait of Hormuz open – and their personal insults against President Donald Trump – may have fractured the relationship beyond repair. As Iranian forces continue to attack shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint through which 20-30 percent of all global crude oil flows, President Trump has called on European nations to form an international coalition to help reopen the strait....

At the beginning of the week President Emmanuel Macron flying to Cyprus and joining the crew of the French aircraft carrier "Charles De Gaulle" to signal France's involvement in the Iran War. Macron offered support to the Greek Cypriot government... Meanwhile Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu confronted the economic cost of the Iran War... On social media late Thursday President Emmanuel Macron reporting the death of a French soldier in Iraq... On Friday it was reported by the "Financial Times" that France and Italy were seeking to open talks with Iran on getting oil moving through the Strait of Hormuz... Tomorrow...

Amidst the Iran War said to be about Iran's quest to acquire nuclear weapons an idea France opposed President Emmanuel Macron this week rolling out expansion of France's nuclear weapons and their linkage to European defense... On Thursday evening President Macron spoke regarding the Iran War and France's response to it. The French military did not fire the opening shots in the war but has opened fire in defense of French military facilities established in the Persian Gulf region since...

Mark Carney has backtracked on his support for the US military campaign against Iran.In an initial statement on Sunday, the Canadian prime minister expressed “support” for the attacks and said they were necessary to “prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon”.But speaking in Sydney on Wednesday, he told reporters that the strikes appeared “to be inconsistent with international law”.Mr Carney joined a chorus of world leaders speaking out against the joint US-Israeli operation, which entered its fifth day on Wednesday.Emmanuel Macron, the French president, said on Tuesday that while Iran bore responsibility for the war, the attacks by the US...

In today’s world, there are 193 countries in the UN. The large majority of those countries will vote consistently against the United States on measures that come before the General Assembly. Then again, the international system that counts is not the UN, but rather the U.S.-led commercial and legal order of alliances and trade. Almost all of the 193 UN member countries participate willingly in that system, to their great benefit. They may oppose the U.S. on many issues, and they may have disputes with their immediate neighbors, but they don’t make themselves constant troublemakers threatening to disrupt world peace...

France's president has joined Spain in condemning US and Israeli strikes on Iran, branding them illegal. In a televised address on Tuesday evening, Emmanuel Macron declared the attacks were 'outside the bounds of international law'. He is the second Western leader to question the legality of the conflict after Spain's Pedro Sanchez warned that strikes from the US and Israel risked bringing about a 'more uncertain and hostile international order'.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth warned that some traditional U.S. allies are "hemming and hawing about the use of force" as Washington presses forward with its campaign against Iran, raising fresh questions about NATO cohesion at a moment of escalation.Spain has refused U.S. permission to use certain bases for strikes on Iran, calling for de-escalation and adherence to international law. Turkey has criticized the operation and warned of broader regional destabilization, while President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said he was "saddened" by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s death and denied that Turkish territory was used in the campaign. In a statement released on...

France's official reaction to the Iran War is one of opposition to Iran's nuclear program and its human rights record... On Friday the European Commission unilaterally and provisionally implementing the MERCOSUR trade deal vehemently opposed by French farmers. The deal will allow France to be flooded with agricultural products from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay... A tweaking of the French cabinet this week the departure of the Minister of Culture Rachida Dati... A diplomatic standoff this week between French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and US Ambassador Charles Kushner. The row over US government social media posting in the name...

French President Emmanuel Macron called President Trump’s attack on Iran “dangerous” and urged both sides to go back to the negotiation table. “The ongoing escalation is dangerous for all,” he said in a statement posted on social media. “It must stop. The Iranian regime must understand that it now has no other option but to engage in good faith in negotiations to end its nuclear and ballistic programs, as well as its regional destabilization activities. This is absolutely necessary for the security of all in the Middle East.” He also called for an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security...

The US ambassador in Paris has once again drawn the ire of the French government. The French Foreign Minister summoned him to appear this evening, but Ambassador Charles Kushner failed to show up without explanation. According to Foreign Minister Barrot, Kushner doesn't understand what the role of ambassador entails. He therefore denies Kushner the right to directly contact members of the French government. Death of right-wing extremist Charles Kushner is the father of Jared Kushner, a son-in-law of the US president. On February 20, he wrote on X about the violent death of French right-wing extremist Quentin Deranque in Lyon:...

This week in France the justice system cracking down following the killing of a Nationalist on the Right during a fight with Leftists in Lyon on February 12th. Quentin Deranque's murder triggering a cataclysm with massive media attention devoted to the case. The first round of municipal elections is just 22 days away a delicate political balance... By Thursday the Public Prosecution Service had seven suspects they wanted to charge in the death of Quentin Deranque including Jacques-Elie Favro. Favro worked as an aide to... President Emmanuel Macron critical of Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after she denounced the killing...

Speaking in New Delhi on Wednesday, France’s President Emmanuel Macron criticized social media companies over their pledged commitments to free speech and lack of algorithm transparency. “Some of them claim to be in favor of free speech. We are in favor of free algorithms, totally transparent,” Macron said. “Free speech is pure bulls**t if nobody knows how you are guided to this so-called free speech.” The remarks come as Macron and his government move to expand regulation of social media platforms in France. Paris is seeking to fast-track legislation that would ban social media access for children under 15 before...

Until now Emmanuel Macron's adviser on North Africa and the Middle East, Anne-Clark Legendre says she will champion "the Arab strand in French culture" as the new head of the Arab World Institute. She replaces Jack Lang who resigned from the post over revelations about his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. SNIP The former culture minister announced his resignation ten days ago, after his name surfaced in the Epstein affair. SNIP Working alongside Emmanuel Macron, Anne-Claire Legendre has notably been involved in France’s move to recognise the State of Palestine. Reacting to the announcement of Anne-Claire Legendre’s appointment, Jack Lang hailed...

This week both French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz pushed rapid European economic development. They spoke at a European industrial conference in Antwerp, Belgium. Macron and Merz citing the competition of the United States and China linking the need for rapid development to a notion of European sovereignty... It is already well-known that Europe is committed to massive increases in defense spending. This seems to be a pathway towards European participation in future conflicts with Russia and or China alongside the United States. But the military buildup can also be clearly seen as a demand by the...

Message to French men and women aged 29: your biological clocks do not forgive, and from your age, fertility rates decrease, so it would be advisable for you to consider the option of preserving your eggs and sperm for future use, so you never have to say, "If only I had known...". A letter with a more or less similar content will be sent from June to thousands of young French people about to turn thirty, as part of the "demographic rearmament" announced by President Emmanuel Macron and included among the 16 measures of the French Ministry of Health's plan...

Some have called the internet "Pandora's Box" and that is becoming obvious to governments around the world from the US to Israel to China, Russia etc. etc. all seeking ways or already finding ways to control the 'information superhighway' to protect their interests. This week France's government with another move against social media raiding the offices of the "X" social media platform in Paris...

This week French President Emmanuel Macron distanced himself from US President Donald Trump's Board of Peace and seized an oil tanker of Russia's 'shadow fleet' demonstrating notions of French independence and power. The decision on not joining the "Board of Peace" by Mr. Macron explained in terms of respecting 'international law' over 'arbitrary action'. There was concern not fully expressed that the "Board of Peace" was really a mechanism to go around the United Nations in Gaza and other places like Ukraine... At one point US President Donald Trump published texts Mr. Macron sent him in an apparent effort to...

This week the appeal trial of Marine Le Pen and her co-defendants accused of misusing European Parliament funds. Last year Le Pen convicted and sentenced to four years in prison with a five-year ban on running for public office. That effectively prevents her from running for President next year... On Wednesday there were attempts to censure the government of President Emmanuel Macron following the EU approval of the free trade deal with MERCOSEUR that angered French farmers. The proposals of La France Insoumise on the Left and the National Rally on the Right fell short...

"We must make America great again. We will start in November" Actor George Clooney reacted to US President Donald Trump's jibes a Clooney's acting ability as well as his political views... last Saturday's official journal proclaimed his French citizenship... A protest opposing US aggression in Venezuela materialized in Paris this evening. A banner displayed the colors of Venezuela's flag with the words... Meanwhile Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot saying the US action attacking Venezuela and capturing President Nicolas Maduro.... President Emmanuel Macron noting the end of a dictatorship in Venezuela endorsing a 'peaceful democratic' transition. He also spoke... Late tonight the...