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
Lebanese Ministry of Health: One person was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a car in the town of Burj Qalawieh, south Lebanon.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The first ship of the Maghreb fleet delivering aid to break the siege on Gaza departs from the port of Gammarth in Tunisia.
Channel 12: Airspace closed at Ramon Airport due to fears of drone infiltration
IOF Spokesperson: Sirens sounded over an aircraft infiltration in the Bir Ora area, and details are being examined
Drone infiltration sirens sound north of the Gulf of Aqaba
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out five extremely violent raids on the western areas of Gaza City
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out major bombings in the Gaza Strip, the most violent since October 7
Yemeni Armed Forces spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree: The missile force carried out a major operation using the Palestine 2 ballistic hypersonic missile, hitting several targets in occupied Yafa.
Sirens sound in large areas of occupied Palestine after a missile launch from Yemen was detected
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: 14 martyrs arrive at al-Shifa Hospital following Israeli massacre of al-Sultan Family north of Gaza.

Macron in need of oil, shifts stance over Maduro

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 8 Nov 2022 20:18
  • 4 Shares
3 Min Read

The French President shakes hands with his Venezuelan counterpart despite describing him in 2019 as "illegitimate".

  • x
  • French President Emmanuel Macron and his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro shaking hands on the sidelines of the climate summit in Egypt
    French President Emmanuel Macron and his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro shaking hands on the sidelines of the climate summit in Egypt

In a major foreign policy reversal, French President Emmanuel Macron shook hands and held a conversation on Monday with his Venezuelan counterpart, Nicolas Maduro, on the sidelines of the COP27 climate summit in Egypt.

The two presidents shook hands for one-and-a-half-minute and chatted on the sidelines of the summit in Sharm El-Sheikh, despite Macron describing Maduro in 2019 as "illegitimate."

"I would be happy if we could talk to each other for longer to engage in useful bilateral work for the region," Macron told Maduro, according to a video recording of the encounter.

Addressing Maduro as "President", he added that "I will call you."

France, the US, and several European allies did not recognize Maduro's democratic re-election to a second term in the 2018 elections and instead recognized his rival, Juan Guaido, as acting president, despite that the latter lost, democratically.

In 2019, Macron recognized Guaido as acting president, describing Maduro's election as "illegitimate" and calling for "a restoration of democracy" in the country.

However, in an earlier semi-reversal in mid-June, the French presidency called for a "diversification of supplies", including oil supplies from Iran and Venezuela to help bring down soaring crude prices fuelled by the war in Ukraine.

"We need producing countries to produce in an exceptional measure," the presidency said on the sidelines of the G7 summit in the Bavarian Alps.

Related News

Venezuela condemns US destroyer's aggression on Caribbean fishermen

Venezuela warns against US military escalation

"Excellent handshake with the President of France Emmanuel Macron," Maduro tweeted after the meeting. "The doors of Venezuela are open for the French people."

French President Macron very respectfully spoke with Venezuelan President Maduro at UN climate conference COP27

Macron made it clear France recognizes Venezuela's constitutionally elected government, referring to Maduro as president and proposing dialoguepic.twitter.com/n3tZ2QutVe

— Ben Norton (@BenjaminNorton) November 8, 2022

"Macron's Big U-turn on Maduro's Venezuela," commented France's left-wing daily Liberation.

Commenting on the two presidents' conversation, the leader of France's left-wing France Unbowed party (LFI) Jean-Luc Melenchon, tweeted that the "need for oil makes people polite." 

Melenchon said that Macron had finally recognized the election of Maduro.

Rencontre bien amicale d'Emmanuel #Macron et Nicolas #Maduro à Charm el-Cheikh. Le besoin de pétrole rend poli.#COP27 https://t.co/caviHajVHI

— Jean-Luc Mélenchon (@JLMelenchon) November 7, 2022

The encounter came as Macron prepares this week to host Colombia's first left-wing President Gustavo Petro, who has renewed diplomatic relations with its neighbor Venezuela and wants to normalize ties after a three-year rupture.

Venezuela is also sending a senior official to attend the Paris Peace Forum, a major annual conference backed by Macron that starts on Friday.

During the discussion between the two presidents, Maduro said that "France should play a positive role" in Latin America.

The conversation also saw Maduro declare that "we have very good friends in common" and ask Macron "when do you visit us?"

  • Venezuela
  • Emmanuel Macron
  • France
  • Nicolas Maduro
  • Climate Summit

Most Read

The damaged building in the Katara neighborhood, Doha, Qatar, September 9, 2025 (Social media)

Hamas delegation survives Israeli assassination attempt in Qatar

  • Politics
  • 9 Sep 2025
Israeli police and rescue teams respond at the scene of a shooting attack where several people killed and injured in Jerusalem, Monday, Sept. 8, 2025 (AP)

Al-Quds shooting: 7 settlers killed, several critically injured

  • Politics
  • 8 Sep 2025
Pro-"Israel" conservative Charlie Kirk shot during Utah speech

Pro-'Israel' far-right Charlie Kirk shot dead during Utah speech

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
People protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, in New York, on Friday, September 27, 2024 (AP)
Politics

'Israel' stops unfunded diplomacy ahead of UN, October 7 memorial

An Israeli Air Force fighter jet releases flares over the Gaza Strip, is seen from southern occupied Palestine, Thursday, May 8, 2025 (AP)
Politics

OIC summit draft: Israeli attack on Qatar risks normalization

People shout slogans and hold Palestinian flags while protesting during the twenty-first stage of La Vuelta cycling race from Alalpardo to Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. (AP)
Sports

Pro-Palestine protests force abrupt end to Vuelta a España finale

Damage is seen after an Israeli strike targeted a compound that hosted Hamas' political leadership in Doha, Qatar, on Wednesday, September 10, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Israeli regime faces growing isolation over Qatar strike: Reports

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