Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: At least two soldiers killed by anti-tank missile fired at Israeli army forces in the Gaza Strip
Local Syrian sources: Mortar shells fell on more than nine villages in the Sweida countryside
Local Syrian sources: Dozens of dead and wounded have arrived at Sweida hospitals as a result of ongoing clashes at several locations in the western Sweida countryside
Local sources: Civilians, including children and women, were injured in the al-Maqous neighborhood of Sweida, in Syria, as a result of ongoing clashes
Israeli media outlet: Security incident reported in the Gaza Strip
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson: No new date or venue has been set for the meeting between Araghchi and Witkoff, and no negotiations will take place until the outcome is guaranteed
Palestinian platforms: Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under the protection of the occupation police
Palestinian platforms: The IOF detonated a booby-trapped robot east of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Syrian Defense: We call on all parties in Sweida to cooperate with security forces and exercise restraint
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation

French DGSE spoke of French interests in Middle East at SUD

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 24 Aug 2022 22:31
  • 2 Shares
3 Min Read

Former director general of the French Foreign Security (DGSE), Bernard Bajolet, spoke at the Summer University of Defense about France's hopes of regaining lost influence in Lebanon after the August 4th explosion that blew up the Beirut port.

  • x
  • Former director general of the French Foreign Security (DGSE) Bernard Bajolet (AFP)
    Former director general of the French Foreign Security (DGSE) Bernard Bajolet (AFP)

Former director general of the French Foreign Security (DGSE), Bernard Bajolet, was present at the Summer University of Defense, on July 26 in Saint-Malo, and answered, during a specialized conference, some questions. One of these questions concerned France's influence in the Middle East.

In response, he said that "we agree that France's status in the Middle East has deteriorated significantly compared to the past, but our government is trying to compensate.

After the August 4th Beirut port explosion, France was willing to help Lebanon country face multiple crises through a project called "mission government," in an attempt to improve its position in the country, given its position on the shores of the Mediterranean which offers significant strategic advantages, he stated. In the Middle East, Bajolet said, "Lebanon is considered the only country in which France could regain its former influence and ensure its strategic interests."

In this regard, said the DGSE, French President Emmanuel Macron also expressed his unwavering support to solve Lebanon's problems.

Related News

Algerian parliament moves to criminalize French colonialism

Macron recognizes Thiaroye massacre as Senegal sways away from France

Regarding France's position on the "Israeli-Palestinian conflict", [Israeli occupation of Palestine] Bajolet said that "his country has sought peace since the beginning, and that is why France supported the creation of two independent governments. In 2013, when I was appointed director general of Foreign Security, I began to establish intimate relations with the political currents in Israel, and I got to know people like Mr. [Yair] Lapid. By the way, Lapid's relationship with the French government dates back to 1987, when Lapid met the late French ambassador to Washington, Emmanuel Jacquin de Margerie, through a Jewish businessman in Los Angeles," adding that "Our friendship with Lapid continues to this day so that in recent years the relationship has reached such a point that in 2018, just days before the Israeli elections, Lapid is visiting France to receive advice from Paris."

The DGSE stated that France considers PM Yair Lapid its intellectual representative in "Israel" as well as on the international political scene.

It is obvious, said Bajolet, that "the French government, in turn, is committed to "Israel's" security and to promoting it through its influence in Lebanon alongside other Arab countries."

Bajolet also argued that the presence of what he described as "a moderate personality" like Lapid at the head of "Israel," who he claimed is far from "religious extremism and orthodox prejudices," is the result of many years of planning and efforts by the Hexagon to increase peace on the international scene.

After spending time discussing national French interests across the Middle East and dreams of an era long lost, Bajolet ended the conference with a populist slogans speech calling for an end to all conflict through "tolerance and respect" without explaining how that is possible as France, amongst other, simultaneously seeks to regain regional influences that are built on romanticized orientalist colonization.

Read more: France 2 airs propaganda, then apologizes for credibility

  • French colonial era
  • Palestine
  • "Israel"
  • France
  • Lebanon
  • Bernard Bajolet
  • DGSE

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS