Hollande’s emerging war strategy

Author (Person)
Series Title
Series Details 18.11.15
Publication Date 18/11/2015
Content Type

Following the terrorist attacks on Paris on the 13 November 2015, as part of the response of the French Government, President Hollande was said to be working to build up a 'grand coalition' against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and their headquarters in Syria.

This included:

+ invoking the EU’s mutual assistance clause, 16-17 November 2015

+ securing a unanimous vote the Security Council of the United Nations on the 20 November 2015 to adopt a Resolution declaring that the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant/Sham (ISIL/ISIS) constituted an 'unprecedented' threat to international peace and security, calling upon Member States with the requisite capacity to take 'all necessary measures' to prevent and suppress its terrorist acts on territory under its control in Syria and Iraq.

+ during the week of 23-27 November 2015 President Hollande held successive bilateral meetings with the leaders of the United Kingdom, United States, Italy, Germany, Russia and China.

The situation was complicated by various issues:

+ the downing of a Russian airforce plane by NATO member Turkey as it flew on a mission against ISIL on the 24 November 2015. Turkey claimed that the plane had entered the airspace of Turkey, a point denied by Russia.

+ the debate within the UK whether it should extend its bombing campaign against ISIL in Iraq to Syria in support of France and other Western allies.

In a shift of the French position, France's foreign minister Laurent Fabius suggested on the 27 November 2015 that troops loyal to Bashar al-Assad could be used to fight the Islamic State group, but only in the framework of a political transition without the Syrian President.

Source Link http://www.politico.eu/
Related Links
ESO: Background information: France seeks answers to security challenge http://www.europeansources.info/record/france-seeks-answers-to-security-challenge/
ESO: Background information: Hollande plans attacks against IS in Syria http://www.europeansources.info/record/hollande-plans-attacks-against-is-in-syria/
ESO: Background information: Invoking the EU’s Mutual Assistance Clause. What it says, what it means http://www.europeansources.info/record/invoking-the-eus-mutual-assistance-clause-what-it-says-what-it-means/
ESO: Background information: Security Council ‘Unequivocally’ Condemns ISIL Terrorist Attacks, Unanimously Adopting Text that Determines Extremist Group Poses ‘Unprecedented’ Threat http://www.europeansources.info/record/security-council-unequivocally-condemns-isil-terrorist-attacks-unanimously-adopting-text-that-determines-extremist-group-poses-unprecedented-threat/
France: Embassy in the UK: News, 22.11.15: Daesh must be annihilated, says Defence Minister. Fight against terrorism/Syria/Russia/Daesh – Interview given by M. Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister of Defence, to the daily newspaper Le Monde (excerpts) http://www.ambafrance-uk.org/Islamic-State-must-be-annihilated-says-Defence-Minister
France24, 22.11.15: ‘No quick victory over IS group’ French army chief warns http://www.france24.com/en/20151122-no-quick-victory-over-islamic-state-group-french-army-chief-warns-paris-attacks
UK: Prime Minister's Office: News, 23.11.15: PM press statement following Paris talks, 23.11.15 https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-press-statement-following-paris-talks
France24, 19.11.15: Russia shifts position on Syria to forge French alliance http://www.france24.com/en/20151118-franco-russian-rapprochement-signals-paris-lack-consistency
BBC News, 24.11.15: Paris attacks: Hollande and Obama to intensify anti-IS push http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-34908858
EurActiv, 23.11.15: UK offers help as France gets ready to intensify air strikes against IS http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/uk-offers-help-france-gets-ready-intensify-air-strikes-against-319742
Politico, 24.11.15: France, US vow to ‘destroy’ ISIL http://www.politico.eu/article/obama-it-was-an-attack-against-the-world-itself-paris-attacks-islamic-state/
EurActiv, 25.11.15: France halts push for Syria coalition with Russia http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/france-halts-push-syria-coalition-russia-319797
Politico, 24.11.15: Obama and Hollande display united front against Putin http://www.politico.eu/article/obama-and-hollande-display-united-front-against-putin/
Euro|Topics: Who's saying what?: Counter-terror alliance with Russia? http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/debatten/links-2015-11-russlandallianz/
Politico, 25.11.16: Hollande’s ‘grand coalition’ bends to Syrian realpolitik http://www.politico.eu/article/hollandes-grand-coalition-bends-to-syrian-realpolitik/
BBC News, 26.11.15: David Cameron says Syria action would be in the UK's national interest http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34927939
Deutsche Welle, 25.11.15: Merkel vows to help France in fight against 'IS' terrorism http://dw.com/p/1HCfs
Politico, 25.11.15: French, German ministers want €10 billion EU security, refugee fund http://www.politico.eu/article/french-german-ministers-want-e10-bn-eu-security-refugee-fund/
Euro|Topics: Main Focus, 26.11.15: Hollande hoping to secure Putin as an ally http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/archiv_dossier/DOSSIER173934-Hollande-hoping-to-secure-Putin-as-an-ally
Carnegie Europe: Strategic Europe, 26.11.15: NATO’s Powerlessness Over Syria and Refugees http://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/?fa=62099
France24, 27.11.15: Putin ready to work with France against ‘mutual enemy’ IS group http://www.france24.com/en/20151126-putin-hollande-talks-moscow-syria-islamic-state-group
ESO: Background information: PM response to FAC report on British military operations in Syria http://www.europeansources.info/record/pm-response-to-fac-report-on-british-military-operations-in-syria-british-parliament-authorises-airstrikes-against-militants-in-syria/
Sputnik International, 27.11.15: French FM Fabius Emphasizes Ground Forces Needed in Fight Against ISIL http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20151127/1030839180/fabius-isil-ground-forces.html
EurActiv, 27.11.15: Putin and Hollande step up common efforts against Islamic State http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/putin-and-hollande-step-common-efforts-against-islamic-state-319890
Die Welt, 27.11.15: Berlin poised to join air show over Syria (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE173947-Berlin-poised-to-join-air-show-over-Syria
France24, 27.11.15: French defence minister urges UK to help 'win this war' against IS group http://www.france24.com/en/20151127-france-uk-paris-attacks-ledrian-win-war-islamic-state-group-terrorism-syria
France24, 27.11.15: France ‘could work with Assad's forces’ against IS group http://www.france24.com/en/20151127-fabius-syrian-forces-france-syria-coalition-islamic-state-group
Deutsche Welle, 27.11.15: [Opinion]: Hollande's quest for an anti-IS alliance http://dw.com/p/1HDpO
ESO: Background information: France and Germany to Europe’s Rescue? http://www.europeansources.info/record/france-and-germany-to-europes-rescue-german-parliament-approves-anti-is-bundeswehr-mission-in-syria/

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