France Hopes To Reconcile with U.S.

French Minister of Defense Michèle Alliot-Marie said Friday that France will pursue a trans-Atlantic strategy of cooperation with the U.S. to promote development and stabilization in terrorist-ridden regions, but she also defended France’s controversial moves to construct a European Union military and sell arms to China.

Alliot-Marie, who spoke at the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum, said that France is willing to move beyond past friction with the U.S. over the war in Iraq. She said she considers President Bush’s recent trip to Europe a symbol of reconciliation and the beginning of a new trans-Atlantic dialogue.

“To me, complementarity and dialogue between Americans and Europeans seems the obvious way to consider the nuclear issue in Iran and the peace process in the Middle East,” said Alliot-Marie, France’s first female defense minister.

While Alliot-Marie said she is wary of terming the current battle a “war on terror” due to the vagueness of the enemy, she does believe there are positive steps France can take to fight terror. She cited economic development as a means to reduce the unrest that fuels terrorists and curb Iran’s pursuit of nukes.

While many in the audience applauded Alliot-Marie’s position on U.S.-French cooperation, her stance on arms sales to China raised some brows. Alliot-Marie argued that France should not be held to an embargo standard ignored by states such as Russia and Israel.

“The embargo is not total,” said Alliot-Marie. “The embargo concerns only European countries and so many other countries today are selling arms to China because they are not concerned with the embargo.”

Dillon Professor of Government Graham T. Allison Jr., a former assistant secretary of defense, said he thinks that analogy is flawed.

“The things China wants to buy from Europe include things they cannot easily buy from Israel and Russia,” Allison said. “It would be great irony if our key ally were the source of weapons used to attack the American people.”

Alliot-Marie also argued that the world’s decision to hold the Olympics in Beijing was a de facto blessing to China and that it must now act consistently with that decision.

“Even if everything is not perfect in China with respect to its human rights program, progress is being made,” said Alliot-Marie.

Andrew Q. Jing ’08, who attended the speech, said he questioned whether France is really selling arms to be consistent.

“I personally think that there are ulterior economic motives. However, I did think that her answer was ‘diplomatic,’” Jing said.

Alliot-Marie defended the construction of a European military, arguing that it is not a threat because there is no existing rivalry between France and the U.S.

“The E.U can act as a prospective partner for the U.S. at a time when the Cold War has given rise to an uncertain world,” she said.

Alliot-Marie also announced that France will work towards stabilization in Africa, support the Middle Eastern peace process, and promote continued cooperation between the E.U. and NATO.

While Allison, who introduced Alliot-Marie, questioned her on arms sales, he said he admire-s her tenacity.

“Michèle Alliot-Marie will be in this business long after [U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald H.] Rumsfeld has received his just rewards,” he said.