Does France Have an Effective Global South Policy?

By Sapna Suresh

The Shared Worldview of Being Less Dependent on America 

From a general perspective, France's foreign policy appeals to the Global South, which is concerned with the need to be less dependent on the U.S. When Macron went to China in April 2023, he said that Europe should not become ‘America’s followers,’ While these remarks caused American backlash, it reflects the foreign policy tradition that dates back to Charles de Gaulle on the necessity to maintain strategic autonomy in international affairs. A classic example of this is refusing to support America’s 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Consequently, France’s worldview appeals to critical powers within the Global South. One example is France's relations with India, in which the two countries share a similar worldview of insisting that they should not have to choose between either power in the Indo-Pacific. The history of France's refusal to sanction or condemn India over its 1998 nuclear weapons test has had a positive impact, viewing France as a country that respects India’s desire to have an independent foreign policy, unlike the U.S.

On several occasions, the French have insisted on the need to be less dependent on the U.S. dollar due to the perception that the U.S. US weaponizes the dollar through sanctions. On certain occasions, France has diverged from America‘s sanctions regime, such as voting yes on a November 2023 UNGA  that called for the U.S. to end its embargo on Cuba.

France’s “Middle Ground” Attempt on Israel/Palestine

Regarding the ongoing Israel/Palestine conflict, the French have had a policy that some perceive as "flip-flopping.” During the United Nations General Assembly in September 2024, Macron said,

“We must not allow the idea to creep in – even for a single moment – that those who have died in Ukraine are of concern to the Global North, while those who have died in Gaza are of concern to the Global South, and that those who have died because of conflicts in Sudan, the Great Lakes region or Myanmar are of concern to those – all too few – who are offended by their deaths.”

Likewise, the French voted in favor of the September 2024 U.N. Resolution that said Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories violated international law. In October 2024, Macron suggested that there should be an arms embargo of offensive weapons Israel uses in Gaza, and France banned the exhibition of Israeli firms at a naval show.

At the same time, on the first anniversary of the October 7 terrorist attacks, Macron reiterated his support for Israel’s security. After the Iranians launched missiles at Israel in October 2024, Paris emphasized its support for Israeli security against the Iranian threats while at the same time insisting on the need for de-escalation after the Israelis attacked Iran.

France's policies toward the Middle East reflect how this issue has divided officials within the French government and broader French society, which can create perceptions of inconsistency. However, it can be an attempt to represent the middle ground, which entails the ability to unequivocally condemn the October 7 attacks while also holding Israel into account when it violates international law in its treatment of Palestinians.

The Failure in West and North Africa

However, a key failure of France’s Global South approach has been its inability to critically view its colonial history toward countries in West and North Africa. In 2017, Macron’s comment that French colonialism was a “crime against humanity" garnered much attention. However, despite these comments, in January 2023, Macron refused to formally apologize for the brutality during Algeria's war of independence.

Likewise, France’s military campaigns in West Africa and Françafrique have reinforced popular discontent against the French, viewing them as colonial. During the September 2022 UNGA, Mali’s former interim prime minister Abdoulaye Maïga said France's policies are “neo-colonial, condescending, and revanchist.” Ibrahim Traore, the military junta that seized power in the military coup in Burkina Faso, said that relations with France can be cordial so long as the "state doesn't have an imperialistic mindset" and treats other countries as equals—likewise, many welcome Niger's junta government for changing the names of several streets and locations. Oumarou Abdourahamane said,

“It makes no sense for our streets to continue to bear the names of former colonists... and so justice is being done by renaming these streets, naming them after our country's heroes.”  

Amid the rising anti-French sentiment in West Africa, Paris has responded by blaming "Russian propaganda." In November 2022, Macron accused Moscow of feeding anti-French sentiment in Africa for its geopolitical interests. While it is true that the Russians have used information campaigns against their rivals, it is crucial to note that the Russians don't create anti-French sentiment.

These examples above illustrate how nuanced and diverse of a bloc the Global South. Thus, given this reality, it influences why, for some Global South countries, like India, France is a partner against bloc politics. In contrast, for others, such as Niger, France's policies are still reminiscent of colonialism.

Previous
Previous

Cultural Diplomacy and its Impacts for Arms Negotiations Between Russia and the United States

Next
Next

Navigating the European Union’s Relationship With Erdoğan’s Turkey