Afghanistan, Sahel: Xavier Bertrand discusses major international issues
Xavier Bertrand meeting in Chinon, in the department of Indre-et-Loire, this Wednesday, August 25, 2021. AFP - JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
Emmanuel Macron is expected in Ireland this Thursday.
The Head of State must evoke many international subjects, on the occasion of this re-entry on the European scene.
In particular Afghanistan and the French military presence in the Sahel, on which the president was attacked this Wednesday, August 25, 2021 by Xavier Bertrand, one of his rivals for 2022.
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For the moment, this is his Achilles heel as a
candidate
: the former mayor of Saint-Quentin has so far not really developed his international stature.
On the occasion of his back-to-school speech, the putative right-wing candidate therefore made his diplomatic melody heard, attacking what he considers to be a renunciation of France in the face of the Taliban.
“
What is happening in Afghanistan,
according to Xavier Bertrand,
is not a civil war on the other side of the world, but involves our values and our future. I want to say it forcefully: there is no question of a new "
diplomatic Munich
".
"Because in the eyes of the current president of Hauts-de-France,"
the Taliban have in no way changed.
"
In his viewfinder, the too great diplomatic caution according to him of Emmanuel Macron on the subject.
Xavier Bertrand also takes up position by resolutely opposing the end of the French military operation Barkhane, in the Sahel,
announced
in June by the Head of State: "
Let us not make in the Sahel,
" he said, "
the same mistake as the Americans. in Afghanistan.
"
France must continue to assume its responsibilities there.
It is there that the stability of sub-Saharan Africa and the Maghreb is played out.
It is there that we prevent the risk of a huge wave of refugees in Europe.
It is also there that the security of France and the French is played out.
The ex-minister of Nicolas Sarkozy thus hopes to dig his own geopolitical groove.
A way also, for Xavier Bertrand, to position himself in the tough battle that looms in order to become, perhaps, the champion for the
presidential election
of the right, of which his former party, The Republicans, remains the main force of opposition to the Assembly.
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