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
Al-Nakhalah: We are the rightful owners, and we must fight to retrieve our rights
Al-Nakhalah: The enemy and its allies must know that we can never surrender to their terms and diktats after all the sacrifices made
Al-Nakhalah: The prisoner exchange clause can be completed in the next few days, and thus we will have pulled the [explosion] fuse and removed the enemy's justifications for aggression
Al-Nakhalah: The Resistance has expressed its willingness to negotiate on the basis that there are items that can be dealt with positively, the first of which is the prisoner exchange item
Al-Nakhalah: Trump's plan entails the Palestinian people's declaration of complete surrender to the enemy
PIJ Secretary-General, Ziyad al-Nakhalah, in an address aired on Al Mayadeen: The Resistance is engaging in a fierce negotiating battle under the so-called Trump plan
Russian Federation Council approves joint military cooperation agreement with Cuba
Al-Nunu: Today, the lists of prisoners required to be released, the agreed-upon criteria and numbers, were exchanged
Al-Nunu from Sharm el-Sheikh: Negotiations focused on mechanisms for implementing an end to the war, the withdrawal of occupation forces from the Gaza Strip, and the exchange of prisoners
Al-Nunu from Sharm el-Sheikh: Mediators are making great efforts to remove any obstacles in the way of implementing the ceasefire, and a sense of optimism now prevails among all parties

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

Maduro signs law cementing Venezuela-Russia strategic partnership

Russia, Venezuela decry US strike on vessel in the Caribbean

"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

Tucker Carlson speaks at a memorial for Charlie Kirk, Sunday, September 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona (AP)

Tucker Carlson: Israeli officers gave orders on Iran inside Pentagon

  • Politics
  • 2 Oct 2025
A Hamas fighter in combat fatigues stands before the ceremony for the handover of Israeli captives to the Red Cross in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip, Saturday, February 22, 2025 (AP)

Hamas responds to Trump plan, backs Gaza withdrawal, exchange

  • Politics
  • 3 Oct 2025
ap

'Israel' pays influencers $7K per post to whitewash Gaza genocide

  • Politics
  • 1 Oct 2025
Mossad’s secret role in Aldo Moro’s 1978 murder revealed

Mossad’s secret role in Aldo Moro’s 1978 murder exposed

  • Politics
  • 5 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
In this May 20, 20201, photo Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie, the head of US Central Command, arrives in Baghdad, Iraq (AP)
Politics

US spent $33 billion on post-Oct.7 genocide, wars, Brown Uni reports

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., holds a news conference to mark the seventh day of the government shutdown, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025. (AP)
Politics

US troops face unpaid wages as government shutdown drags on

Mourners wave Hezbollah and a Palestinian flag during the funeral of Hezbollah former leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and his successor Sayyed Hashem Safieddine in the Sports City Stadium in Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, February 23, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Hezbollah voices support for Gaza, Resistance on October 7 anniversary

Al-Aqsa Flood restored Palestinian cause on the global stage: Hamas
Politics

Al-Aqsa Flood restored Palestinian cause on the global stage: Hamas

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