(today)
UN-Soldaten beseitigten auf einer Straße im Süden Libanons Sprengsätze. Dabei gerieten sie unter Beschuss. Ein französischer Soldat wurde getötet. Frankreich vermutet die pro-iranische Hisbollah hinter dem Angriff.
Archiv: Emmanuel Macron
Israeli opposition leader calls to revive ‚South Lebanon Army‘ to assist with occupation
(October 10, 2024)
Lapid advocated regime change in Lebanon, saying, “the international community will need to appoint a sort of oversight committee for Lebanon to manage its civilian life for a set period until elections can be held and a new government can take control.”
Crucial to this effort would be the establishment of a collaborator Lebanese army loyal to Israel and its Western and Gulf allies.
(…)
Lapid claimed it would be easy to recruit Lebanese by paying soldiers in a new army $500 a month. New recruits would then be trained by French, Emirati, and US military officers.
The South Lebanon Army (SLA) was established by Israel in 1976 after the collapse of the Lebanese government due to civil war.
Hezbollah denies involvement in deadly attack on UN peacekeepers
Hezbollah on Saturday denied it was involved in a deadly attack on United Nations peacekeepers (UNIFIL) in South Lebanon, after France accused the group of being behind the incident.
„Hezbollah denies any connection to the incident that occurred with UNIFIL forces in the Ghandouriyeh-Bint Jbeil area, and calls for caution in making judgments and assigning responsibilities regarding the incident pending the Lebanese Army‘s investigations to determine the full circumstances of the incident,“ the group said in a statement.
One peacekeeper was killed and three others wounded from the French battalion, with Paris blaming Hezbollah.
French soldier killed in Lebanon in attack on UN peacekeepers
Macron named the soldier as Florian Montorio, a staff sergeant in the 17th Parachute Engineer Regiment of Montauban serving with Unifil, the United Nations‘ peacekeeping mission in Lebanon.
He was killed on Saturday morning in southern Lebanon, the president said in a post on X. The three soldiers wounded in the same attack were evacuated, he added.
„Everything suggests that Hezbollah is responsible for this attack,“ Macron said. „France demands that the Lebanese authorities immediately arrest the perpetrators and assume their responsibilities alongside Unifil.“
But Hezbollah denied any connection to the attack. In a statement, the group urged „caution in making judgments and assigning responsibilities“ pending the results of an investigation by the Lebanese army.
UK and France to co-host talks this week on possible defensive naval mission for Hormuz
„This week the UK and France will co-host a summit to advance work on a coordinated, independent, multinational plan to safeguard international shipping when the conflict ends,“ Starmer posted on X.
Britain has previously convened representatives of more than 40 countries that share the aim of restoring freedom of navigation. The United States was not involved in those talks.
Iran entered talks with seriousness, outcome depends on US approach: Pezeshkian
President Masoud Pezeshkian says Iran has entered the talks with the United States in Islamabad with „determination and seriousness,“ stressing that the success of the process depends on Washington‘s approach.
He made the remarks during a phone call with his French counterpart, Emanuel Macron, on Saturday, his office said in a statement.
Underlining the importance of the US attitude towards the process to its success, President Pezeshkian reminded how it was Washington‘s previous instances of betraying diplomatic engagements with Tehran by subjecting the Islamic Republic to military aggression that scuttled the negotiations.
Macron, Saudi Crown Prince discuss expanding Iran ceasefire to Lebanon
French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman discussed the recently announced ceasefire between the United States and Iran during a phone call on Saturday, emphasizing the need to extend it to Lebanon.
The call comes as direct negotiations between the United States and Iran began in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, earlier on Saturday.
Macron rejects military plan as allies push to reopen Strait of Hormuz
“We have today foreign ministers and representatives from more than 40 countries gathered to discuss the Strait of Hormuz, the consequences of its closure, the urgent need to restore freedom of navigation for international shipping, and our firm international determination to see the strait reopened,” British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said at the start of a virtual meeting.
The meeting was announced by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer as United States President Donald Trump urged countries that depend on the route to take action.
Straße von Hormus: „Gewalt ist keine Option“
Wer ein Bündnis eingehe, müsse seinen Verpflichtungen gerecht werden, kritisierte Macron. Man könne nicht jeden Tag das Gegenteil dessen sagen, was man am Vortag gesagt habe. Es wäre sinnvoller, weniger zu reden und sich stattdessen für einen gerechten Frieden einzusetzen.
South Africa says France has disinvited it from G7 gathering in June
The spokesperson for President Cyril Ramaphosa said they have learned that Paris has had to withdraw its invitation due to sustained pressure from the United States.
Vincent Magwenya said they have been told that the Americans threatened to boycott the G7 if South Africa was invited.
French President Emmanuel Macron personally asked Ramaphosa to take part in the G7 during the G20 summit in South Africa in November.
Joint statement from the leaders of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Japan on the Strait of Hormuz: 19 March 2026
Consistent with UNSC Resolution 2817, we emphasise that such interference with international shipping and the disruption of global energy supply chains constitute a threat to international peace and security.
Six U.S. allies back potential Strait of Hormuz coalition
Yes, but: France, Germany, Italy and Japan have previously all publicly ruled out sending naval vessels to the strait during the war.
France holds back warships as Trump urges allies to secure Strait of Hormuz
France has said it will not send naval vessels to the Strait of Hormuz after US President Donald Trump called on countries reliant on oil from the Gulf to help secure the shipping lane that has been blocked since the start of the US and Israeli attacks on Iran. France has insisted it will not join the war on Iran, maintaining a strictly defensive approach.
UN Security Council passes resolution urging Iran to stop Gulf attacks; China, Russia abstain
The United Nations Security Council on Wednesday (March 11) adopted a resolution urging Iran to stop its attacks on Gulf nations, but the text avoided mentioning recent US or Israeli strikes on Iran, drawing sharp criticism from Tehran.
The resolution passed with 13 votes in favour, while veto-holding members China and Russia abstained. It “demands the immediate cessation of all attacks by the Islamic Republic of Iran against Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan.”
UNO isoliert den Iran
Der UN-Sicherheitsrat hat am Mittwoch mit klarer Mehrheit eine Resolution angenommen, in der ausschließlich die Angriffe des Iran auf die Golfstaaten verurteilt werden – nicht jedoch die vorangegangenen Angriffe der USA und Israels auf den Iran. China und Russland haben sich enthalten.
UN Security Council adopts resolution condemning Iran‘s attacks on Gulf states
Presented by Bahrain and co-sponsored by 135 countries, the resolution emphasized „strong support for the territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence“ of the GCC states and Jordan.
It strongly condemns the „egregious attacks by the Islamic Republic of Iran against“ the Gulf countries and Jordan, emphasizing that the attacks „constitute a breach of international law and a serious threat to international peace and security.“
Macron warns of renewed friction with U.S., urges E.U. to use ‚Greenland moment‘ to push reforms
“World markets are increasingly wary of the U.S. dollar. They’re looking at alternatives. Let’s offer them European debt,” Macron said, adding that Europe’s democratic institutions were a major asset for investors at a time when the U.S. was “drifting away from the rule of law.”
The E.U. used joint debt in 2020 to re-boot the European economy after the COVID-19 pandemic, but French attempts to make such tools permanent have faced stiff resistance from Germany and other more frugal northern member states.
Macron hosts Denmark and Greenland leaders in show of European unity
France will stage a prominent display of European solidarity on Wednesday, with President Emmanuel Macron welcoming Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen to Paris for talks focused on Arctic security and Greenland’s long-term development.
The Élysée Palace said the meeting would take the form of a “working lunch”, during which Macron will “reaffirm European solidarity and France’s support for Denmark, Greenland, their sovereignty and their territorial integrity”.
France calls for NATO exercise in Greenland
France has already sent a small military contingent to Greenland and has plans to send sea, air and land forces, though the details remain unclear.
Greift die EU jetzt zur „Handels-Bazooka“?
Im eskalierenden Streit zwischen der EU und den USA um Grönland rückt ein handelspolitisches Instrument in den Fokus, das bislang noch nie zum Einsatz kam.
What is the EU anti-coercion ‚bazooka‘ it could use against the US over Greenland?
What does the instrument do?
The armoury allows the EU to take measures such as import and export restrictions on goods and services in its single market of 450 million people.
It also gives Brussels the power to limit American companies‘ access to public procurement contracts in Europe.
The EU last year threatened to use the weapon during difficult trade negotiations with Trump to avoid steep levies but the two sides struck a deal.
Trumps Zölle wegen Grönland: EU holt zum Gegenschlag aus
Bei den Beratungen auf dem EU-Sondergipfel über die Reaktion auf den offenen Erpressungsversuch des US-Präsidenten dürfte die Aktivierung eines EU-Instruments zur Abwehr wirtschaftlicher Nötigung diskutiert werden – dieses wird auch als „Handels-Bazooka“ bezeichnet. Frankreichs Präsident Emmanuel Macron werde beantragen, das sogenannte Anti-Coercion Instrument (ACI) zu nutzen, hieß es aus dem Umfeld des Präsidenten. Das Gesetz ermöglicht der EU Gegenmaßnahmen, wenn wirtschaftlicher Druck ausgeübt wird, um politische Entscheidungen zu erzwingen.
France to request activating EU anti-coercion instrument to deter US tariff threats: Report
Macron‘s entourage told broadcaster BFMTV on Sunday that the president will ask, on behalf of France, for the activation of EU‘s Anti-Coercion Instrument (ACI), also known as trade „bazooka“ to deter Washington.
ACI is primarily a deterrent mechanism requiring approval by a qualified majority of member states and allowing the bloc to impose measures such as restricting access to public procurement or blocking certain investments.
France is committed to the sovereignty and independence of nations, in Europe and elsewhere. This guides our choices. It underpins our commitment to the United Nations and to its Charter.
It is on this basis that we support, and will continue to support Ukraine and that we have built a coalition of the willing for a robust and lasting peace, to defend these principles and our security.
It is also on this basis that we decided to take part in the exercise organized by Denmark in Greenland. We fully assume this decision, because security in the Arctic and at the outer edges of our Europe is at stake.
No intimidation or threat will influence us—neither in Ukraine, nor in Greenland, nor anywhere else in the world when we are confronted with such situations.
Tariff threats are unacceptable and have no place in this context. Europeans will respond in a united and coordinated manner should they be confirmed. We will ensure that European sovereignty is upheld.
It is in this spirit that I will engage with our European partners.
France to step up Greenland deployment with land, air and sea forces
France began deploying troops to Greenland on Thursday and said it would send additional „land, air and sea“ forces in the coming days, confirming the presence of high-mountain specialists from the French army on the ground as part of a European military exercise after inconclusive talks in Washington.
France to send extra ‚land, air, and sea‘ forces to Greenland in coming days, says Macron
„A first team of French service members is already on site and will be reinforced in the coming days with land, air, and maritime assets,“ Macron told troops during a speech to start the new year.
„France and the Europeans must continue to be present wherever their interests are threatened — without escalation, but uncompromising when it comes to respect for territorial sovereignty,“ he added.
Danish politicians call for German and French troops in Greenland to deter the U.S. — Welt
(January 9, 2026)
Conservative MP Rasmus Jarlov said it would be wise to welcome allies “so that the price of a military invasion for the Americans would be extremely high.”
Left-wing leader Pelle Dragsted warned: “We must make it clear that it would be an armed conflict” and that Americans cannot “just land a helicopter in Nuuk and raise the US flag.”