Collective solidarity with France must transform into collective action against ISIS

The French government has stated that it will invoke the EU’s ‘mutual defence clause’ in relation to the Paris terrorist attacks, which indicates that when a state is attacked, all member states must show solidarity in addressing the aggression. Ranj Alaaldin writes on the potential military response France and its other western allies might pursue in Iraq and Syria in the coming weeks. He argues that inaction is no longer an option and that while the lessons of previous interventions such as those in Libya and Iraq must be learned, the West can and must intervene when it either faces grave and immediate threats or where proponents of reform face repression by state or non-state actors.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: France seeks answers to security challenge http://www.europeansources.info/record/france-seeks-answers-to-security-challenge/

ESO: Background information: Letter to President François Hollande of France from European Council President Donald Tusk on the attacks in Paris / Joint statement of the Heads of State or Government and leaders of the European Union and its institutions on the terrorist attacks in Paris http://www.europeansources.info/record/countries-rethink-commitments-to-accept-refugees/

Blog: Open Europe, 17.11.15: France triggers EU ‘mutual defence clause’ – but what is it? http://openeurope.org.uk/blog/france-triggers-eu-mutual-defence-clause-but-what-is-it/

ESO: Background information: Meeting: Foreign Affairs Council, 16-17 November 2015 http://www.europeansources.info/record/meeting-foreign-affairs-council-16-17-november-2015/

The Conversation, 18.11.15: Military intervention is needed against Islamic State – so, just come up with a strategy http://theconversation.com/military-intervention-is-needed-against-islamic-state-so-just-come-up-with-a-strategy-50872

Euro|Topics: Main Focus, 19.11.15: Paris and Moscow wage war on IS http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/archiv_dossier/DOSSIER173545-Paris-and-Moscow-wage-war-on-IS

ECFR: Commentary, 17.11.15: Forging a European resolve http://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_forging_a_european_resolve5014

ECFR: Commentary, 18.11.15: Real solidarity with France http://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_real_solidarity_with_france5016

The Economist, 21.11.15: Paris. How to fight back http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21678785-battle-against-islamic-state-must-be-waged-every-front-how-fight-back

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