Mishal Zahra
France is one of the world’s leading diplomatic and military powers. France’s Foreign policy has evolved over the past few decades, reflecting its imperial legacy, strategic interests, and global ambitions. Its foreign policy seeks to protect its autonomous status, national independence, and sovereignty, positioning itself as a self-help state, while maintaining international cooperation through diplomacy, human rights, and international law to protect its national interests.
Being a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, and one of the founding members of NATO, plus the European Union, France projects its strong influence globally. While adopting a balanced approach to maintain the relations between its Western allies, China, and the European Union, France promotes international stability and cooperation, contributing to global peace.
France’s Foreign policy has evolved over the past few decades, shaped by multiple factors. Since 1945, the integration and prosperity of European countries has been the core of French foreign policy. It’s because France wanted to make a strong monetary and economic system that benefits Europe.
After WWII, France established a “post-colonial compact” with its African colonies by giving them economic, military, and political aid, while gaining natural resources in return. France adopted two different policies for the African pré carré (sphere of influence) and for the rest of the world. African sovereignty was limited, exacerbated by France being the penholder on African issues in the UN, especially for Mali.
After the Cold War, France acted more as an autonomous state in its defense system, improving its cooperation on a global level. Historical imperialism has also shaped France’s contemporary foreign policy, especially in Africa.
The core principle of France’s foreign policy is the National interest and security, with investments in multi-year plans, like (Loi de Programmation Militaire 2024-30) to counter the risk of external threats, especially after Russia invaded Ukraine. Secondly, it balances national independence and sovereignty, positioning itself as a self-help state, along with international cooperation to protect its interests and global position.
Another key aspect of France’s foreign policy is multilateral diplomacy. France holds a special position by being a P5 member and an E3 (European trio) member, giving it a critical position in international diplomacy. It acts as a bridge between the Middle East and the P5, giving it leverage to protect its foreign policy goals by avoiding being sidelined in regional diplomacy.
France has maintained key bilateral partnerships linking itself to the US, China, Africa, and European countries, supporting its foreign policy goals and autonomy through cooperation in bilateral trade, diplomacy, and security concerns. In US led hierarchical order, France acts as an autonomous partner. It combines deep NATO integration (U.S. military bases and joint defence initiatives) with a strong independent streak, insisting on EU-driven policies.
Washington applies hierarchical discipline through alliance rhetoric and policy pressure. The US emphasizes the Franco-American bond and urges France to exclude Huawei 5G (Chinese telecommunications company) technology. At the same time, the U.S. permits some French autonomy, accepting EU-led tech security rules, as France chose the EU 5G standards over a direct U.S. ban, to keep France aligned without forcing full subordination.
In recent times, the concept of “European sovereignty” has been supported by the French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs,Jean-Noel Barrot, who said thatFrance wants to continue working with the U.S. on security and peace. “But when the United States makes an unacceptable proposal, it (France) is prepared to say no.”
In the Middle East, France balances its diplomatic ties while increasing its involvement in peace cooperation and securing energy resources. Over the past two decades, Paris has been actively engaged across the region and has supported the prevention of Iran’s nuclear program, increasing its influence across the energy-rich geography.
As one of the nuclear powers. France is ensuring the maintenance of its deterrent force and its adaptation to the new strategic realities, taking into account the European dimension of its defence, while working towards a total ban on nuclear testing and committing itself to arms control and disarmament.
Besides all, with the rising powers across different regions, France’s foreign policy faces a serious challenge, especially in the case of losing its imperial legacy in the African region. The growing anti-French sentiments in the African regions show the failure of French soft power diplomacy.
On the other hand, countries like Russia, China, and Turkey are using the outbidding strategy to lower French influence, highlighting the strategic failure of French foreign policy. France is now giving up its post-colonial compact and has started cooperation with its former colonies based on mutual gains.
France’s foreign policy reflects a careful and balanced approach based on the pillars of sovereignty, bilateral relationships, national interests, protection of human rights, and the spread of democracy.
It doesn’t put its sovereignty on stake at any cost, maintaining its deterrence capability by implementing its 5th Republic Nuclear Doctrine” (also called the “Force de frappe” doctrine), the purpose of which is to protect its national security. Despite some drawbacks in its foreign policy, France has successfully implemented its core principles across the Middle East, the US, the Indo-Pacific, and the Euro-Atlantic region.
The writer is a student of BS International Relations of the National Defence University and has a keen interest in geopolitics and world order.
