french foreign policy

Historically and politically, France has always been closely related to the issues of the Middle East. With the announcement of America's strategy in this region, a more suitable opportunity was provided for the entry of middle powers to expand its relations, and France is trying to expand its relations in Middle East according to its foreign policy goals. In this research, the question is that how the French arms trade in Middle East affect the security of the Iran? The expansion of France's military and security relations with the Arab countries of Middle East is, on the one hand, to establish a balance of power between the Arab countries and Israel and prevent the tendency to use weapons of mass destruction with the aim of ensuring the security of the parties. On the other hand, it causes the expansion of the arms race in the region, the expansion of the regional gap and tension between the Arab countries and Iran.Referring to the theory of neoclassical realism, this article states that the continuation of the strengthening of relations between the countries of Middle East with France will intensify insecurities which have negative and destructive effects on the security of Iran.

France has historically and politically been closely linked to the issues of Southwest Asia. By announcing the US strategy towards the region, France provided a good opportunity as one of the middle powers to expand its relations, and the country is trying to expand its relations in Southwest Asia in line with the major foreign policy goals. The aim is to examine France's political, economic and military relations with the Arab countries, especially the countries bordering the Persian Gulf, which will lead to the expansion of the arms race in the region and, consequently, regional divisions and tensions between the Arab countries and the Islamic Republic of Iran. . In this article, the author states that the continuation of the current situation and the continuation of tensions between the Arab countries and Iran and the strengthening of relations between the Arab governments and France in the long run will increase Iran's passivity and isolation and strengthen security threats in various dimensions. The research method is descriptive-analytical and the required information and data have been prepared based on the library method and filing.

One of the effects of the Cold War and the results of developments on the international arena and foreign policies of European countries, Including France, was intellectual and philosophical. This effect was more in the form of a shift from Gaullism to Neogaullism, with a kind of shift from authority or domination to convergence; But then, France's foreign policy emphasizes geopolitical position and independence mentality Influenced by Gaullism thought as a symbol of national identity, shifted towards the realization of the neo-Gaulist idea of rethinking the European approach. Of course, in French foreign policy, the idea of a new European identity based on French power is still being pursued, and the main goal of French foreign policy is to take steps to promote French power in the European Union. However, the creation of a united Europe, influenced by neogaulist views, is one of France's most important foreign policy goals. In this article, the authors try to answer the question that "How have Gaulist and Neogaulist thoughts influenced French foreign policy towards the European Union since the Cold War?" The main hypothesis is that France's foreign policy towards the European Union after the Cold War has evolved from pursuing the idea of "French splendor" as the legacy of "Gaulism" to the neogaulist idea of "more Europeanism" with the aim of reproducing a new European identity. The present article is written with a descriptive-analytical approach and the method of data collection using library resources and data in virtual space is used.

With the rise of Nicholas Sarkozy to power, in an evident spin, France’s foreign policy became American in essence. From the very first year of his presidency Sarkozy adopted a parallel policy to the U.S. Atlanticism is considered an important and inevitable leverage in Sarkozy’s foreign policy and his government marked a high point in foreign policy after de Goulle. This new approach is completely evident in the French transatlantic policies and we can clearly see the changes of France’s policies which are inspired by closeness to the U.S regarding Islamic republic of Iran. Sarkozy’s new approach in foreign policy includes a balanced standpoint of Eurocentrism and Atlantisicm in which the European Union and NATO are considered strategic and operational complementaries. Sarkozy tried to explain the closeness to the U.S in a framework of European policies. Sarkozy is looking for a new definition of the role of France in the international relations. He is trying to achieve more influence and credit in the international scene by leveraging Atlantisicm and closeness to the U.S. Parallel with strengthening transatlantic interactions, Sarkozy has tried to announce the return of his country to the NATO military branch, Achieving the most share of NATO’s command and also dispatching forces to Afghanistan. In this paper, the intensification of the French foreign policy towards Iran in line with France’s policy in getting closer to the U.S is also discussed.

France’s Middle East policies in general and its Arab policies in particular were founded by Charles de Gaulle after the June 1967 Arab- Israeli war. Since then, Arab policies as de Gaulle’s legacy became a role model in the foreign policy pursued by the French presidents. Chirac was among the presidents who remained faithful to de Gaulle’s foreign policy precepts including his Arab policies, establishing good relations with secular Arab governments in the Middle East during his tenure. After Chirac left office, in his campaign, rupture from the past and weakening of France’s Arab policies became a priority for Sarkozy. However, after he won the presidential elections, France’s Arab policies have in practice persisted in French foreign policy.