Projection of Power: France's Complex Arms Entanglements and Diplomatic Dissonance...

France has recently made headlines as President Emmanuel Macron advocates for an arms embargo on Israel, citing civilian casualties in Gaza and Lebanon. However, this call, meant to signal France's commitment to human rights and peace, faces scrutiny in light of the nation’s own troubling arms supply track record. French arms and technology have played significant roles in conflicts and humanitarian crises worldwide—from Myanmar to Yemen, Iran, and Lebanon, revealing a pattern of inconsistency that raises questions about France's moral and diplomatic stance.

This discrepancy hints at a form of diplomatic projection—a tactic where one country deflects attention from its own actions by focusing on perceived faults of others. As France challenges Israel’s actions, examining France's involvement in international arms sales and conflicts reveals a tangled web of interests that contradict its purported commitment to peace and human rights.

Myanmar: Supplying an Oppressive Regime

In Myanmar, French-manufactured aircraft like ATR planes have been implicated in war crimes, as they enable the military to transport troops and arms that facilitate violence against civilians. Leaked documents suggest Myanmar’s military planned nearly $19 million in ATR aircraft parts after the 2021 coup, illustrating a reliance on French equipment to sustain its brutal operations. Even while international actors applied sanctions to curb Myanmar's military power, France's aviation sector seemed, at best, slow to vet such transactions or, at worst, willing to turn a blind eye to potential abuses.

Despite international condemnation of Myanmar’s junta, French firms like ATR have maintained commercial ties with local airlines linked to the military. The company's willingness to conduct business despite evidence of Myanmar's crimes against humanity exemplifies a contradiction in France's outward moral positions and its economic policies.

Yemen: French Technology in a Humanitarian Crisis

In Yemen, France has again found itself on the wrong side of the humanitarian divide. Companies such as Dassault Aviation, Thales, and MBDA France supply technology and arms to the Saudi-led coalition. This coalition has been widely criticized for airstrikes on civilian targets, including schools and hospitals. The coalition's actions have led to thousands of civilian casualties, raising questions about France's commitment to international humanitarian law. Yet, French arms and technologies continue to fuel a crisis that is one of the world's most severe humanitarian tragedies today.

This involvement draws attention to France’s readiness to maintain lucrative defense contracts even with the knowledge of their devastating impact on civilian populations. While Macron condemns Israel for endangering civilians, French arms manufacturers are simultaneously complicit in Yemen’s humanitarian toll, exposing France's selective approach to civilian protection.

Iran: Supplying Ammunition for Suppression

Iran's suppression of the "Woman, Life, Freedom" protests, sparked by the tragic death of Mahsa Amini, relied in part on French-made Cheddite ammunition. Despite European Union sanctions prohibiting such exports, French ammunition found its way into the hands of Iranian security forces, who used it to quell protests with lethal force. The crackdown saw thousands injured, with survivors suffering severe injuries, including loss of vision, as French-made ammunition tore through crowds advocating for their basic freedoms.

This case reveals a striking irony: while Macron speaks against violence and terror in other nations, French-manufactured ammunition has contributed directly to one of the Middle East’s most brutal crackdowns on civilian protests in recent years.

Russia: Exploiting Loopholes Amid Conflict

France’s relationship with Russia further complicates its image as a champion of global peace. Since 2015, despite an EU embargo on arms sales to Russia, France issued 76 licenses for exporting military equipment, providing thermal sights, navigation systems, and infrared detectors used against Ukrainian forces. Paris exploited a loophole in the EU embargo, allowing exports from pre-existing contracts to continue. France's main state-backed arms suppliers, Thales and Safran, benefited from these agreements, even as France professed support for Ukraine.

Lebanon and Hezbollah: Empowering Potential Adversaries

France’s ties with Lebanon also reveal contradictions. The decision to supply the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) with military vehicles sparked concern among Israeli and U.S. analysts, who worry that Hezbollah, a militant group with known ties to Iran, could co-opt these resources. This risk underscores the complexity of France’s diplomatic ties with Lebanon and Iran, as it balances competing interests in the Middle East. Hezbollah, positioned in close proximity to Israel, has historically clashed with the Israeli Defense Forces, making it all the more confounding that France would arm LAF despite potential security risks for its allies.

Armenia: France and Iran’s Alignment on Strategic Interests

In the South Caucasus, both France and Iran have supported Armenia, ostensibly to balance influence against Azerbaijan, a close ally of Israel. France recently provided Armenia with radar systems and anti-air missiles, while Iran supplied drones and missile systems. This alignment of interests raises the specter of a Franco-Iranian strategic partnership that directly opposes the interests of Azerbaijan and its ally, Israel. France’s support for Armenia while pursuing peace talks with Iran over Lebanon signals a complicated dynamic of alliances that further muddies its stance as a defender of human rights and peace.

The Irony of Macron’s Diplomacy

Macron’s recent condemnation of Israel over civilian casualties, despite France's own involvement in conflicts that harm civilians worldwide, exemplifies a tactic of projection. Accusing others to distract from one's own controversies has long been a tool in diplomacy, but Macron’s overt stance against Israel while supplying arms to oppressive regimes appears hypocritical.

If France truly aims to embody its principles of “Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité” on the global stage, it would do well to reevaluate its participation in international arms sales. As it stands, France's actions in Myanmar, Yemen, Iran, Russia, and Lebanon contrast starkly with its public condemnations, leaving many to question its sincerity in advocating for peace and human rights.

The Cost of Hypocrisy

France’s complex role as both peace advocate and arms supplier reveals the challenging intersection of ethics and economic interests in global politics. Macron’s arms embargo on Israel, framed as a moral imperative, underscores the paradox that while France claims to defend human rights, its actions paint a different picture. As France's entanglements in international conflicts become more visible, its moral authority in diplomatic dialogues is at risk.

Ultimately, France’s credibility on the global stage depends on its ability to align its foreign policy actions with the values it so often espouses. For the victims of these international conflicts, words mean little if they are accompanied by French-made weapons. As the world watches, it remains to be seen whether France will step back from its lucrative defense contracts or continue to wield them under the veil of moral superiority.