The issue of bias in French foreign policy towards the South Caucasus region is not a new development. France’s involvement in the OSCE Minsk Group alongside the US and Russia since 1992 aimed to bring about a peaceful resolution to the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict. However, over the years, France’s favoritism towards Armenia has become increasingly evident, leading to a lack of balanced approach and raising concerns about the country’s credibility in other international disputes.
The Minsk Group’s Stagnation and Russia’s Opportunism:
The Minsk Group, despite its three-decade existence, failed to make significant progress in resolving the conflict. When France and the US showed declining interest in the group from 2010, Russia stepped in and took advantage of the resulting vacuum. Russia capitalized on its position as the main negotiator and the supplier of ‘peacekeeping’ troops during the Second Karabakh War, further exacerbating the bias in the region.
France’s Open Bias and Frustration in Azerbaijan:
Baku grew increasingly frustrated with France’s overt partiality towards Armenia in the years leading up to the Second Karabakh War. Two key factors contributed to this bias. Firstly, France and the US have substantial Armenian diasporas, which influenced their foreign policy. Secondly, French foreign policy has historically favored Greece over Turkey and Armenia over Azerbaijan, creating an unbalanced approach to the South Caucasus issue.
France’s Recognition of Karabakh and Turkophobia:
France’s lack of balanced approach was further exposed when both houses of the French parliament voted to support Armenian separatism in Karabakh. This move, including recognizing Karabakh as an ‘independent’ republic, clearly demonstrated France’s biased stance. Additionally, France’s negative perception of Turkey, reflected through calls to end EU negotiations, has also impacted Azerbaijan adversely, becoming collateral damage in widespread Turkophobia.
Support for Armenia and Collateral Consequences:
Support for Armenia is one policy that remains consistent across the entire French political spectrum. French President Emanuel Macron has openly voiced his support, emphasizing France’s close human, cultural, and historical ties with Armenia. However, France’s military agreements and equipment sales to Armenia have drawn concern. The sale of sensitive air defense systems, for example, could end up compromising Ukraine’s security and inadvertently benefiting Russia.
Armenia-Russia Relations and France’s Incompatibility:
France’s security relationship with Armenia clashes with NATO and EU policies, as Armenia maintains long-term embedded security relationships with Russia and Iran. Armenia’s integration into Europe, which many EU members would welcome, requires careful consideration of its existing ties. Armenia’s economy heavily depends on Russia, and its energy needs are met by both Russia and Iran. Rapid changes in security relationships could have unintended consequences.
France’s biased foreign policy towards Armenia in the South Caucasus region raises concerns about its trustworthiness and credibility, particularly in other conflicts such as Ukraine. France’s contradictory goals of supporting territorial integrity in Ukraine while indirectly providing access to military equipment to Russia and Iran poses threats to Ukrainian and Israeli security. A more balanced and nuanced approach is necessary for France to regain credibility and effectively address international disputes.
Market Capital Research 