Macron's conditions for war

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Global Recap
May 04, 2024 • Read in: 6 minutes

Hi Global Recap readers,

Just when the world is letting out a sigh after the whole Israel vs Iran debacle, Macron decided to stir up tensions again.

Is this a good deterrent strategy to keep Russia at bay, or is it only making room for escalation?

France

Police clash with pro-Palestine group

Pro-Palestine protestors are not only active on US college campuses.

🛑 Blockades. On Friday, French police had to remove a pro-Palestinian group, Comité Palestine Sciences Po, from Sciences Po’s campus grounds.

🔗 Solidarity. The Comité Palestine Sciences Po (translated as Sciences Po Palestine Committee) demanded the university condemn Israel and sever ties with entities supporting “Zionist ideologies,” reflecting a broader wave of pro-Palestinian/anti-Israel campus activism.

France

Macron hints at joining Ukraine war

French President Macron

🔍 Scrutiny. In an interview with The Economist, Macron stated that he would contemplate sending French troops to Ukraine under two specific conditions:

  • a Russian breakthrough, and

  • a Ukrainian request.

🌐 Global Impact. The potential involvement of French troops risks NATO activating Article 5, which states:

“The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all and consequently they agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each of them, in exercise of the right of individual or collective self-defence recognized by Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, will assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area (…)”

So basically, an attack against a NATO nation is deemed as an attack on all NATO allies.

Germany

Warning to Russia

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock

Russia is not only engaged in physical combat; they are also continuously operating in the cyber domain.

⚠️ Warning. Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock condemns a cyber attack linked to Russian military intelligence, warning of repercussions.

🚨 Tension. Amidst the ongoing Ukraine conflict, Germany has been a staunch supporter, providing military aid. This support has led to strained relations with Russia, with President Vladimir Putin declaring a near freeze in bilateral ties since December.

💻 Attribution. The cyber attack targeting German sectors from December 2022 has been attributed to the Russian group APT28, controlled by the GRU (Russian intelligence agency).

🔍 Investigation. A similar group, APT29, was discovered targeting German political parties, aiming to infiltrate and extract data.

Turkey

Halting trade with Israel

Turkish President Erdogan (left) and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu (right)

🚫 Sanctions. Turkey has suspended all trade with Israel due to the “worsening humanitarian tragedy” in Gaza. The suspension includes “all products,” a significant escalation from previous restrictions on 54 items.

🌍 Global Implications. This development has far-reaching consequences, affecting nearly $7 billion worth of trade and prompting Israel to seek alternative trade partners.

🤝 Diplomatic Strain. Relations between Turkey and Israel have been tumultuous, with a history of severed ties, restored connections, and renewed conflicts.

This move isn’t too surprising considering Turkey is a Muslim-majority nation.

China

Launching off to the Moon

🚀 Launch. On Friday, China’s Chang’e-6 probe embarked on a historic journey to the moon’s far side, a region shrouded in mystery and untouched by human hands.

  • This marks the first time a mission attempted to retrieve samples from this unexplored area.

🌗 Exploration. The mission is a critical step in China’s ambitious space program, reflecting the nation’s growing capabilities and aspirations in the final frontier.

  • Despite US restrictions, global scientists and officials attended the launch, showcasing international interest.

  • The probe’s journey and sample collection will provide valuable data, enhancing our knowledge of lunar conditions.

Where is the US in all this?