Macron's interests
The recent history of the Middle East teaches that there is little future for arbitrators or mediators in trying to consolidate lasting stability. It has been a long time since anyone has tried to do so, unless their actions are also driven by their own interests. This is the case of the US president, Donald Trump, with the establishment of diplomatic relations between the United Arab Emirates and Israel. The work performed by his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, has important goals for the region, such as addressing Iran's expansion, but also a clear electoral intention for his intended new mandate in the presidential elections of 3 November.
Amidst key movements in the region is the active figure of the French president, Emmanuel Macron, who travelled to Lebanon the day after the devastating explosion in Beirut and a few days ago, just when several French planes with assistance were arriving in the country of cedars. And when he strengthened his military presence in the Mediterranean by sending Rafale fighters to Crete to back Greece and Cyprus in the face of the military harassment of the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and following the frigates that had been launched by French and Turkish frigates in Mediterranean waters.
Erdogan's oil and gas ambitions and his aggressive intervention in Libya, Syria and Iraq, his arms purchases from Russia and his support for Qatar and the Muslim Brothers have created serious tension within NATO. Josep Borrell travelled to Libya and Egypt; meanwhile, the American Stephanie Williams, UN special envoy for Libya, visited Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia to gather support for a new round of dialogue in Geneva between the opposing Libyan parties.
Meanwhile, Macron continued with his agenda to strengthen France's role in the Middle East with a visit to Iraq, where he sent another message to Erdogan: "Iraqi sovereignty must be respected". The question posed by several analysts of the region is the French president's real intention, as he is exquisitely zealous not to upset Iran with his statements and contradicts the United States' positions. In Lebanon, Macron avoided criticising Hezbollah, an Iranian ally. The Iraqi government viewed the French visit as an opportunity to secure financing or military support while the French president was interested in the Baghdad metro project, the electricity supply structure and various energy and transport projects. France seeks to be an important partner for Iraq, Lebanon and other Middle Eastern countries. Macron is looking after the interests of its companies in the Middle East and regaining internal popularity.