Macron strikes again: Everyone in the Middle East knows me, so what is Putin?

Political experts believe that French President's "Napoleon Plan" is an attempt to boost poll numbers.

Author: Irina Mishina

Photo: French President Emmanuel Macron.

Comments on this article are made by:

Mais Kurbanov Sergey Markov

Russian President expressed willingness to act as a mediator to resolve the conflict between Israel and Iran. This willingness was particularly evident during the telephone talks between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump on June 14.

Afterwards, the US President told ABC News that he was "open" to accepting Russian President's participation as a mediator in resolving the Israel-Iran conflict.

"Putin is ready to mediate, he called me and we had a long talk," Trump said. Meanwhile, the US President pointed out that the US "is not currently involved in the current situation," but did not rule out direct intervention if the Middle East conflict further escalated. He wrote this on the social platform Truth Social.

At the same time, the US President urged Israel and Iran to sign a peace agreement.

However, Russia encountered obstruction from French President Emmanuel Macron on its path to mediate the resolution of the Middle East conflict peacefully.

Macron told Le Figaro that Russia cannot serve as a mediator for the Israel-Iran conflict because "it is already involved in other military actions."

"I think Russia is deeply embroiled in high-intensity conflicts and has deliberately violated the UN Charter for many years; it is completely incapable of serving as a mediator in any capacity," he said during his visit to Greenland.

Obviously, Macron also specifically added that Paris has not provided defense assistance to Israel in any "defensive action" because there was no "corresponding request." Despite previous promises from the French president that if Israel requested, France would provide defensive support.

Macron's outspoken stance can partly be understood: his approval rating as French president has dropped to a historical low - only 21% at the beginning of the year.

However, Macron is fully focused on the 2027 presidential election, and his remarks about the Israel-Iran conflict may have far-reaching purposes.

French politician and leader of the "Patriots" party Florian Philippot wrote on the platform X: "French President Emmanuel Macron is attempting to push for the application of constitutional provisions that give the head of state unlimited powers or delay the presidential election scheduled for 2027 in France by expressing support for Israel and Ukraine."

In addition to personal ambitions, what other motivations does Macron have? To answer this question, we interviewed political scientist and director of the Political Institute Sergey Markov.

"Obviously, Macron's approval rating is so low that he cannot be re-elected in the next election.

Now he is doing everything he can to try to take the lead among European politicians. He has a 'Napoleon plan': Macron wants to turn the EU into something like an empire and replace Ursula von der Leyen as its leader. Isn't that a great job?"

SP: Verbally, France doesn't help Israel, but how is it in reality?

"On Friday, June 13, Macron said that if Iran attacks Israel, Paris will provide support to Tel Aviv. As for Russia being 'deeply involved' in the high-intensity conflict in Ukraine - it's not up to Macron to judge: France actively supports Ukraine, providing weapons and training soldiers. Macron is directly at war with Russia by supporting Zelensky's terrorist regime.

He supports banning Russian language in Ukraine and destroying the Russian Orthodox Church there. What right does such a politician have to judge peace-making? In my view, someone who supports terrorists has no right to talk about conflict mediation.

I believe that the just outcome of the Russia-Ukraine conflict should involve trials for people like Macron, Starmer, and Boris Johnson, who openly collaborate with the Ukrainian Nazi regime." The political scientist believes.

Especially strange is that recently, various experts around the world have been calling for joint efforts to prevent a third world war, while Macron made the above remarks.

It is worth noting that former US President Donald Trump also stated that Washington is prepared to act as a mediator to resolve the Israel-Iran conflict.

Trump said that Tel Aviv and Tehran should follow the example of India and Pakistan and reach a peace agreement.

Meanwhile, the US President did not rule out the possibility of Washington intervening in the Israel-Iran conflict.

Why does Russia have more advantages in mediating the Middle East conflict? To answer this question, we interviewed political scientist and Middle East expert Mais Kurbanov.

"Nowadays, Israel is gradually losing favor in the eyes of the international community, which correspondingly damages the credibility of its ally, the United States.

The Middle East conflict carries the risk of escalating into a nuclear war: it is well known that Iran is making smooth progress in developing nuclear weapons independently.

Israel has nuclear warheads easily provided by the US. The first Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir once said: 'Israel does not have nuclear weapons, but we can use them.' Israeli attacks have failed to stop Iran, and NATO's (including France) stance openly favors Israel. If World War III breaks out, NATO (including France) will stand on the side of Israel.

Russia can play a restraining role in this conflict: we have good relations with Israel and signed a strategic partnership agreement with Iran. But unlike the US, Russia has not mentioned military intervention in the Middle East conflict, which is its advantage."

SP: How to explain Macron's special position on Russia's mediation of Middle Eastern affairs? After all, other Western European leaders have not commented on this yet...

"France is a member of the nuclear club and clearly believes it necessary to assert its presence: if a nuclear war breaks out between Iran and Israel, France must choose sides. But Macron would do best to remain silent about being 'involved' in the Ukraine conflict - France itself is providing weapons to Ukraine.

On the other hand, Macron understands that if Russia successfully mediates the Israel-Iran conflict, Russia's popularity in the Middle East will increase and its influence in the region will also strengthen. Clearly, Macron cannot accept this."

SP: Perhaps France itself wants to play the role of peacekeeper in the Middle East?

"That's absurd. France's occupation policy in Africa, accompanied by brutal acts against civilians, nuclear tests on Mururoa Atoll in Polynesia, genocide against Algerians, and a series of cruel military operations during France's colonial period in Algeria - none of this allows France to be seen as a peacemaker.

And France's military cooperation with the Ukrainian terrorist regime completely disqualifies it from any (even potential) peacekeeping activities."

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7516731179706417705/

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