The solution in Lebanon will not come from the French gate

French President Emmanuel Macron (Reuters) (Reuters)

Lebanon belatedly submitted its positive response to the French paper that was delivered some time ago from the French embassy in Lebanon. The Lebanese response did not bring anything new, but rather confirmed the repeated statements of Lebanon’s commitment to international resolutions, especially 1701, provided that it is coupled with an Israeli commitment as well.

As is the Lebanese habit of mobilizing time, all parties were quick to applaud the French role, and the possibility of it being applied to renewing the effort to solve all of Lebanon’s problems, most notably the regularization of institutions starting from the election of a President of the Republic.

But France, which was circulated in Lebanese history books and which was made according to its own eyes and which portrayed the caring mother, and that it was the protector of the interests of the Lebanese, and the watchdog to resolve their crises and shape their development, did not reflect this image in the past years. It has become clear that the mother's "tenderness" was mixed with, and even overshadowed by, interest, and controlled her decisions, which must always be remembered, so as not to unconsciously follow shepherds whom we previously acknowledge as speaking and moving in the interest of Lebanon, while the reality is elsewhere.

Shortly after the Beirut Port explosion, France appeared on the Lebanese scene with a strong, colonialist face. French President Emmanuel Macron toured Beirut to check on the “injured subjects.” President Macron then came out to say: “I will not tolerate this political class in Lebanon,” and gave multiple indications that he would eliminate the corrupt Lebanese class.

Strategic French investments come with the launch in 2022 of a program to provide scholarships for a period of three and ten years so that selected students can continue their studies in prestigious French universities. Thus, the company’s thinking is strategic in qualifying cadres for its companies who hold the knowledge it wants, and most importantly, the mentality, culture, goals, and French nationality.

But President Macron's electoral speech was quickly denied by the interest, and we saw him negotiating with this class, led by Hezbollah, until he reached a tendency towards Hezbollah's presidential candidate, former MP Suleiman Franjieh. Since France lost its global influence, it has continued to receive blows, the last of which was in rich, exploited Africa, so in return it is trying to compensate anywhere, especially Lebanon.

France is trying to place Lebanon within its negotiating basket, and to form a line of communication for it with Iran through Hezbollah. To present itself as Iran's Western interlocutor, but it could not hide its economic interests in Lebanon, as well as with Iran and Hezbollah. In the Middle East oil game - and in the context of competition with Turkey on the oil maritime borders - it is trying to assert that Lebanon has its share, as it is present through Total in the Lebanon Oil Consortium, and the negotiation with Hezbollah and Iran opened the door for Total itself. To sign an energy agreement with Iraq worth $27 billion last year.

Inside Lebanon, France was not satisfied with oil through Total, but rather the French “CMA CGM” group was strongly present until it turned into a “state within a state.” A number of Lebanese media outlets boasted about the number of people employed by French companies led by CMA CGM, which amounted to 6,300 Lebanese citizens. Although there is an aspect of flattery in employing Lebanese, the numbers show the extent of the new French interest in Lebanon.

A survey conducted by the French Ministry of Economy, Finance, Industry and Digital Sovereignty showed that French companies are distributed in various Lebanese sectors as follows: 22% in the services sector, 12% in the energy sector, 10% in the construction sector, another 10% in the agro-food sector, 8 % in the digital sector, 6% in the transportation sector, 6% in the finance sector, 4% in each of the pharmaceutical, cosmetics and engineering sectors, and the remaining 14% in other sectors of the economy, without forgetting that small Lebanon ranks third in terms of markets receiving exports. French in the Near and Middle East region, with a value of $400 million in 2022.

Of course, the matter is not far from politics, as it is not a coincidence that the “CMA CGM” group signed a contract after the port explosion to operate its container terminal worth $33 million within a ten-year contract as a result of the French movement to help Lebanon!

The “CMA CGM” group has turned into a real octopus in Lebanon since 2019, with the push of French policy, as the Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of the company, Rodolphe Saadeh, accompanied President Macron on his visit to Lebanon following the Beirut Port explosion. Then began the phase of Saadeh’s incursion into various sectors, driven by the political back and the tragic Lebanese reality, and he bought entire companies at low prices.

The “CMA CGM” group today manages container terminals in the ports of Beirut and Tripoli, after the contract we mentioned in Beirut, and after its acquisition in 2021 of the shares of Gulftainer Lebanon, which is concerned with Tripoli containers, so that France takes control of Lebanon’s maritime transport in its two most important ports.

The ongoing acquisition activity arrived in 2023 with a suspicious contract from Liban Post for Colis Privé and Merit Invest, which belong to CMA CGM, directly or indirectly, and with a suspicious contract.

In the agricultural and production field, it moved, through its companies CEVA Logistic and Merit Holding, to invest in agriculture, and acquired Al-Rifai Company, a long-established and pioneering company in the field of coffee and nuts, under the weight of the Lebanese crisis, which forced the company’s owners to sell it at a reduced price.

In the field of technology, it opened a digital center in 2019 in central Beirut called The Hub. To meet the digital needs of the parent company, it seeks to establish academies in the field.

The strategic French investments come with the launch in 2022 of a program to provide scholarships for a period of three and ten years so that selected students can continue their studies in the prestigious universities of France. Thus, the company’s thinking is strategic in qualifying cadres for its companies who hold the knowledge it wants, and most importantly, the mentality, culture, goals, and French nationality.

This is the tip of the iceberg, and the list goes on, and every month or two we hear about a new acquisition from the company, the latest of which was the company signing a few days ago a pledge to buy all of Altice Media’s shares, estimated at more than one and a half billion euros.

It is noted that French investments through the most important company intensified significantly after Macron's visit, and the happiness of those close to him, to Lebanon following the port explosion.

From here, it is possible to look at the French positions in Lebanon and understand their nature, which is based on two basic pillars: First, restoring Lebanon as a French base of influence in the Mediterranean and starting from it for the neighboring state through economic control and direct political intervention. Second, by extending a hand to Hezbollah and its successor, Iran, which is spread throughout the country. The Middle East and the world and to facilitate its movement inside Lebanon, where Hezbollah has the most significant influence.

If we put this lens when looking at the French positions, it is possible to understand how Macron retreated from his proposal to change the political class to participate and benefit from it, and how he turned to supporting Hezbollah’s candidate Suleiman Franjieh.

How is it trying to deal with the southern Lebanese file today as a mediator between two of its allies, and why have its problems with the Arab countries in the Five-Year Committee increased, and even how have France’s historical allies in Lebanon and the region been dealing with it and targeting it so much? Because the previous relationship was based on cooperation for the public interest, it changed to become a request for cooperation for France’s international and regional interests.

This is what is gradually turning France, even in the eyes of the Lebanese, into a colonial and hegemonic state rather than a state of aid and support, and will also undermine its interest with the Arab countries that have come to view it with suspicion. Given the depth of its line of interests with Iran, without forgetting that it showed recklessness in dealing with the Lebanese file and was defeated by the Lebanese forces.

In conclusion, it is a mistake to concede to France in Lebanon that it is a positive, historical sponsor. Because the data today have changed and France has appeared as one of the political brokers in Lebanon. Instead of reforming Lebanese politics, it is happy with it and invests in it to deepen corruption and private interest.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of Al Jazeera.