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Subject
France's Middle East policy.
Significance
French President Francois Hollande appointed former Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault as foreign minister in a cabinet reshuffle on February 11. Ayrault takes over from Laurent Fabius, who personally monitored several key Middle East issues.
Impacts
Ayrault may prioritise EU issues, and favour a common European approach to international crises.
His team may be willing to increase cooperation with Russia on Syria, but other actors in the decision-making process will disagree.
Fabius's departure should ease tensions with the Obama administration -- especially Secretary of State John Kerry -- on the Middle East.
With Jean-Yves le Drian staying on as defence minister, arms export policy in the Middle East will not change.
Keywords:
France,
EUR,
Middle East,
Iran,
Israel,
North Africa,
Palestinians,
Russia,
Saudi Arabia,
United States,
international relations,
foreign policy,
government,
security,
economy,
industry,
arms,
foreign trade,
sanctions,
terrorism
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2016
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