Foreign Affairs

Germany -Munich attack (14.02.25)

France stands with Germany after a car rammed into a crowd in Munich on February 13, injuring some 30 people. France offers its solidarity and support to the German people and authorities.

Updated: Fri Feb 14 2025

Israel/Palestinian Territories - Humanitarian freight bound for the Gaza Strip (14.02.25)

A plane chartered by the European Union is today transporting nearly 52 tonnes of humanitarian aid supplied by France to civilians in the Gaza Strip. The cargo, put together by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs' Crisis and Support Centre, includes tents, blankets, ground sheets and tarpaulins for more than 1,000 Palestinian families in the Gaza Strip and nearly a tonne of medicines donated by the French non-profit organization Tulipe. The despatch of tents to Gaza supports the (…)

Updated: Fri Feb 14 2025

Jordan - Conversation between Jean-Noël Barrot and his Jordanian counterpart (14.02.25)

Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot spoke today with his Jordanian counterpart, Ayman Safadi. During their conversation, and following on from the Paris Conference on Syria held on February 13, the two Ministers addressed the situation in Syria. They agreed on the importance of supporting a just, inclusive political transition that fulfills the aspirations of the Syrian people and respects the rights of all Syrians. They also reaffirmed their shared desire to work to (…)

Updated: Fri Feb 14 2025

Lebanon - Jean-Noël Barrot’s meeting with his counterpart (13.02.25)

The Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs had a meeting on 13 February with his new Lebanese counterpart, Mr Youssef Raggi, on the sidelines of the Paris international conference on Syria. He warmly congratulated him on his appointment to the government that Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam formed on 8 February. The Minister reaffirmed France's full support for the process of change begun by President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, aimed at putting Lebanon back on the (…)

Updated: Fri Feb 14 2025

DRC - Conversation between Jean-Noël Barrot and his Congolese counterpart (February 13, 2025)

On February 12, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot spoke with Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Francophonie of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Minister expressed his deep concern over the deterioration of the situation in eastern DRC following the capture of Goma on January 28 and ongoing clashes in South Kivu near Bukavu. He reaffirmed France's unwavering support for the DRC's sovereignty and territorial (…)

Updated: Thu Feb 13 2025

Paris Conference on Syria - Joint statement (13 Feb. 2025)

Statement by the Governments of France, Syria, Bahrain, Canada, Egypt, Germany, Greece, Iraq, Italy, Japan, jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the European Union, the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, the Secretary General of the League of Arab States and the Secretary General of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf. Following the ministerial meetings in Aqaba (14 December 2024) and (…)

Updated: Thu Feb 13 2025

Saudi Arabia - Conversation between Jean-Noël Barrot and his Saudi counterpart (February 13, 2025)

On February 13, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot spoke with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud. The two ministers hailed the prospects created by the Paris AI Action Summit. They underscored their shared desire to expand French-Saudi cooperation in this area in order to promote trustworthy, safe and secure AI to the benefit of all. They also discussed projects aimed at strengthening economic and business ties between Europe and the (…)

Updated: Thu Feb 13 2025

Weimar+ statement (France, Germany, Poland, Italy, Spain, United-Kingdom, Ukraine, HRVP, European Commission) (12 Feb. 2025)

We are ready to enhance our support for Ukraine. We are committed to its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of Russia's war of aggression. We share the goal to keep supporting Ukraine until a just, comprehensive and lasting peace is reached. A peace that guarantees the interest of Ukraine and our own. We are looking forward to discussing the way ahead together with our American allies. Our shared objectives should be to put Ukraine in a position of strength. (…)

Updated: Thu Feb 13 2025

AI Action Summit: Ensuring the development of trusted, safe and secure AI to benefit of all (Paris, 12 Feb. 2025)

Artificial intelligence (AI) is profoundly transforming our society, opening up unprecedented opportunities in many fields. For this technological revolution to benefit everyone, it is crucial to ensure its responsible and ethical development, with trust at its heart. AI raises major concerns regarding safety and security, as clearly demonstrated by the summits in Bletchley Park (United Kingdom - November 2023) and Seoul (South Korea - May 2024). Whether in anticipating extreme risks or (…)

Updated: Wed Feb 12 2025

Yemen / United Nations - World Food Programme humanitarian worker dies in detention (12 Feb. 2025)

France expresses its profound indignation following the death of a World Food Programme (WFP) humanitarian worker who had been arbitrarily detained by the Houthis under inhumane conditions since last January. France offers its condolences to the loved ones of the victim and to the United Nations. France reiterates its strongest possible condemnation of the Houthis' arbitrary detention of employees the United Nations, non-governmental organizations and diplomatic missions. France demands (…)

Updated: Wed Feb 12 2025

Brazil - Meeting between the Minister and his counterpart, Mr Mauro Vieira (10 Feb. 2025)

The Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, M. Jean-Noël Barrot, had a meeting today with his Brazilian counterpart, Mr Mauro Vieira, Minister of Foreign Affairs, on the sidelines of the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit. The two ministers discussed our two countries' various key engagements in 2025, in particular the UNOC3 summit in Nice and COP30 in Belém, with a view to coordinating our action and championing greater ambition in protecting the environment and fighting climate change. (…)

Updated: Tue Feb 11 2025

Israel/Palestinian Territories - Situation in the West Bank (11 Feb. 2025)

France is deeply concerned about the many civilian casualties – particularly children – and the people displaced as a result of the Israeli operations under way in the north of the West Bank. The way the use of force is being employed by the Israeli army in the West Bank is extremely concerning. France calls on the Israeli authorities to show the utmost restraint in the use of force and to comply with their international obligations under international humanitarian law by ensuring the (…)

Updated: Tue Feb 11 2025

Lebanon - Formation of a new government (09.02.25)

France welcomes the formation of the new Lebanese government, less than a month after the election of President Joseph Aoun. It warmly congratulates him, President of the Council of Ministers Nawaf Salam, and Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, for their decisive contribution to this result. It wishes the new government every success in accomplishing its mission, on which it is embarking at a historic and crucial moment for Lebanon's future. France will stand alongside Lebanon to help it (…)

Updated: Mon Feb 10 2025

The Global Partnership for Action on Gender-Based Online Harassment and Abuse calls for gender to be an integral part of

Joint statement from the governements of Australia, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Spain, Finland, France, Iceland, Mexico, Republic of Korea, United Kingdom, and Sweden. In light of the upcoming Global AI Action Summit organised by France, we, the undersigned members countries of the Global Partnership for Action on Gender-Based Online Harassment and Abuse emphasize the critical need to address human rights and gender equality issues in the era of artificial intelligence (AI). With the rapid (…)

Updated: Mon Feb 10 2025

Russia - Q&A - Extract from the press briefing (6 Feb. 2025)

Q: According to Le Monde, Russian authorities canceled the accreditation of its Moscow correspondent. The Russian foreign ministry asserts that it will be renewed if Paris begins issuing visas to Russian journalists. How do you respond to that? A: France condemns the Russian authorities' decision to abruptly revoke the accreditation of Le Monde's Russia correspondent, Benjamin Quénelle. This decision is all the more significant in that it's the first time since 1957 that Le Monde – one of (…)

Updated: Thu Feb 06 2025

Ukraine - Meeting of the working group of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine (6 Feb. 2025)

The working group of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine held its latest meeting on February 3 and 4 in Brussels. France is fully involved in this effort, which was initiated by Ukraine in 2022. In partnership with all the participating States, we made important progress on the texts that will provide for the establishment of the tribunal. France is playing a constructive role in these discussions in order to swiftly finalize this effort. In line with its (…)

Updated: Thu Feb 06 2025

UN - International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (6 Feb. 2025)

On this International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, France demands an end to this intolerable form of violence without further delay. It is an unacceptable attack on the physical integrity and fundamental rights of women and girls. That makes it a human rights violation, which France condemns in the strongest possible terms. Throughout the world, France defends the right to have control over one's own body. It is an inalienable right that is fundamental to women's (…)

Updated: Thu Feb 06 2025

Foreign digital interference - Publication of the VIGINUM report on information manipulation (05.02.25)

Amid a surge in attempts to interfere with European election processes, specifically via digital platforms, the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and the Minister Delegate for Europe are particularly committed to supporting our affected partners and using all the necessary tools at the European and national levels to safeguard the integrity of elections. In this regard, the Service for Vigilance and Protection against Foreign Digital Interference (VIGINUM) published a report today on (…)

Updated: Wed Feb 05 2025

Israel/Palestinian Territories - Support for the two-state solution (5 Feb. 2025)

France reiterates its opposition to any forced displacement of Gaza's Palestinian population, which would constitute a serious violation of international law, an attack on the legitimate aspirations of Palestinians and also a major obstacle to the two-state solution and a factor of major destabilization for our close partners, Egypt and Jordan, and the whole region. France will continue actively promoting the implementation of the two-state solution, which alone can guarantee long-term (…)

Updated: Wed Feb 05 2025

Sweden - Shooting in Örebro (05.02.25)

France stands with Sweden in the wake of the mass shooting on February 4 at an adult education center in Örebro, which left a dozen people dead and several injured. France sends the Swedish people and authorities a message of solidarity and support. In this tragic situation, it offers its heartfelt condolences to the victims' families and wishes those injured a speedy recovery.

Updated: Wed Feb 05 2025

United Nations/Environment - France’s ratification of the UN agreement on marine biodiversity (5 Feb. 2025)

On 5 February, France deposited with the United Nations Secretary-General its ratification instrument for the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction, known as the BBNJ Agreement. This deposit completes the ratification process, following Parliament's unanimous adoption of the bill presented by the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, (…)

Updated: Wed Feb 05 2025

UN - Appointment of the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Libya and head of the UN Support Mission in Li

France congratulates Hanna Tetteh on her appointment as the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Representative for Libya. We assure her of our full support for her new position as the head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL). France encourages UNSMIL to pursue its mandate and continue its mediation efforts in order to ensure political unity in Libya. The revival of the political process led by and for Libyans is vital to the formation of a new unified government (…)

Updated: Tue Feb 04 2025

Israel/Palestinian Territories - Release of Ofer Kalderon (1 Feb. 2025)

It was with great relief and emotion that we learned that our compatriot Ofer Kalderon has been released as part of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. We welcome the news that he has regained his freedom after more than 15 months of heinous captivity. We share in the joy of his friends and family, with whom the President of the French Republic spoke on 18 January and the French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs met on 7 November in Tel Aviv, along with the Yahalomi (…)

Updated: Sat Feb 01 2025