Looks like France is finally sending troops to the Gulf, just not in the way you might have expected. Currently on a tour of the Middle East, President Nicolas Sarkozy has signed a deal with the United Arab Emirates to establish the first French military base in the region – indeed, the only foreign military base in Arabia that does not belong to the US.
At first sight this seems like an odd move, particularly to Americans (and Brits) weaned on sniggering tales of French military disaster and tanks with one forward and five reverse gears, and who still chuckle at the timeless simile that going to war without France is “like going duck hunting without your accordion”. What on earth has possessed the new French President to go committing troops to the Persian Gulf at a time when tensions in the region are rising? Doesn’t he realize that they might actually one day have to, y’know, fight?
As ever in these cases, there is more to this announcement than meets the eye. It needs to be seen in the context of two considerations; France’s economic interests in the region - which are significant - and France’s view of its place in the world, which may appear a comical one to many observers but which the French themselves take deadly seriously.
France has always sold weapons to Gulf states, as have Britain, America and others. But her economic interests in the area go much further. Despite the justifiable scepticism about Iran’s motivation for pursuing its nuclear program, the truth is that the Iranian interest in smashing atoms together is mirrored in many Arab states, too. As well as the agreement to base French troops there, the UAE have also agreed to cooperate on nuclear power, as have Algeria and Libya too. Moreover, both Saudi Arabia and Qatar have also expressed an interest in taking their relationship with France to the nuclear level.
The burgeoning infrastructure of the oil states needs energy to sustain it, too; over a quarter of the Gulf States’ oil production is consumed domestically rather than exported. Every barrel of oil that goes towards lighting the streets of Dubai is $100 that could be flowing into the UAE’s coffers instead. At over two million barrels a day… well, you do the math. Any energy source that frees up production for the export market is to be welcomed, and very few countries have the expertise to build and maintain nuclear plants. France is one of these, and it’s taking full advantage.
However, beyond the allure of the Emir’s cash, as welcome as it is, there’s a wider consideration at work. France still sees itself very much as a global power, and while sending 500 troops to catch some rays in a peaceful Arab state may seem like small beer to American eyes, the symbolism of the move is potent nonetheless.
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