France–Iraq relations
Encyclopedia
France–Iraq relations refers to the international relations between France
and Iraq
. Before Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1991, France enjoyed friendly relations with former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein
, however the relationship turned sour once Iraq entered Kuwaiti soil and soon France cut off ties with Iraq. Following thirteen years, France resumed relations with Iraq in 2003. Iraq has an embassy in Paris
and France has an embassy and a representative office in Baghdad
.
cultivated Arab countries in the wake of the 1967 war in the Middle East
. This policy was seen by Paris as a way of boosting trade ties with oil-rich nations and extending French influence in an area which had been dominated by the Anglo-Saxons
.
In 1970 France was one of Iraq's main trading partners. Diplomatic and economic ties were given a crucial boost in 1974, when former French Prime Minister, and President, Jacques Chirac
, called Saddam Hussein
a personal friend. Following this statement, his government agreed to build an experimental nuclear reactor near Baghdad
, which was later bombed by Israel
. Arms sales continued, as well as French infrastructure projects in Iraq and by the late 1970s France was second only to the USSR as a supplier of both civilian and military equipment to Iraq.
The relationship continued under French Socialist
governments in the 1980s. France, like many other Western countries, strongly backed Iraq in its war against Iran
. Paris
supplied Baghdad
with sophisticated weaponry, including Mirage fighter bombers
and Super Etendard aircraft equipped with Exocet
missiles. When Iraq delayed payments for the equipment, Paris rescheduled the debt.
The relationship between both countries began to diminish in 1991 when Iraq invaded Kuwait
. France responded by trying to persuade Saddam Hussein to withdraw and just a few days before Operation Desert Storm began, French envoys were in Baghdad, trying to find a diplomatic solution to the crisis.
France remained more favourably-inclined towards Baghdad than other Western countries. Economically, relations with Iraq were a costly disaster, as they were left with $4 billion in unpaid bills.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
. Before Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1991, France enjoyed friendly relations with former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003...
, however the relationship turned sour once Iraq entered Kuwaiti soil and soon France cut off ties with Iraq. Following thirteen years, France resumed relations with Iraq in 2003. Iraq has an embassy in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and France has an embassy and a representative office in Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
.
History
Historically, France has long had a special relationship with Iraq, and has been Iraq's most friendly accomplice in the West. The special relationship began three decades ago, when General Charles de GaulleCharles de Gaulle
Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle was a French general and statesman who led the Free French Forces during World War II. He later founded the French Fifth Republic in 1958 and served as its first President from 1959 to 1969....
cultivated Arab countries in the wake of the 1967 war in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. This policy was seen by Paris as a way of boosting trade ties with oil-rich nations and extending French influence in an area which had been dominated by the Anglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxon is a term used by historians to designate the Germanic tribes who invaded and settled the south and east of Great Britain beginning in the early 5th century AD, and the period from their creation of the English nation to the Norman conquest. The Anglo-Saxon Era denotes the period of...
.
In 1970 France was one of Iraq's main trading partners. Diplomatic and economic ties were given a crucial boost in 1974, when former French Prime Minister, and President, Jacques Chirac
Jacques Chirac
Jacques René Chirac is a French politician who served as President of France from 1995 to 2007. He previously served as Prime Minister of France from 1974 to 1976 and from 1986 to 1988 , and as Mayor of Paris from 1977 to 1995.After completing his studies of the DEA's degree at the...
, called Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003...
a personal friend. Following this statement, his government agreed to build an experimental nuclear reactor near Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
, which was later bombed by Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. Arms sales continued, as well as French infrastructure projects in Iraq and by the late 1970s France was second only to the USSR as a supplier of both civilian and military equipment to Iraq.
The relationship continued under French Socialist
Socialist Party (France)
The Socialist Party is a social-democratic political party in France and the largest party of the French centre-left. It is one of the two major contemporary political parties in France, along with the center-right Union for a Popular Movement...
governments in the 1980s. France, like many other Western countries, strongly backed Iraq in its war against Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
. Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
supplied Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
with sophisticated weaponry, including Mirage fighter bombers
Dassault Mirage F1
The Dassault Mirage F1 is a French air-superiority fighter and attack aircraft designed and built by Dassault Aviation as a successor of the Mirage III family. The Mirage F1 entered service in the French Air Force in the early seventies...
and Super Etendard aircraft equipped with Exocet
Exocet
The Exocet is a French-built anti-ship missile whose various versions can be launched from surface vessels, submarines, helicopters and fixed wing aircraft. Hundreds were fired in combat during the 1980s.-Etymology:...
missiles. When Iraq delayed payments for the equipment, Paris rescheduled the debt.
The relationship between both countries began to diminish in 1991 when Iraq invaded Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
. France responded by trying to persuade Saddam Hussein to withdraw and just a few days before Operation Desert Storm began, French envoys were in Baghdad, trying to find a diplomatic solution to the crisis.
France remained more favourably-inclined towards Baghdad than other Western countries. Economically, relations with Iraq were a costly disaster, as they were left with $4 billion in unpaid bills.
See also
- Foreign relations of FranceForeign relations of FranceA charter member of the United Nations, France holds one of the permanent seats in the Security Council and is a member of most of its specialized and related agencies.-Nicolas Sarkozy:...
- Foreign relations of IraqForeign relations of IraqSince 1980, the foreign relations of Iraq were influenced by a number of controversial decisions by the Saddam Hussein administration. Hussein had good relations with the Soviet Union and a number of western countries such as France and Germany, who provided him with advanced weapons systems...
- French support for Iraq during the Iran–Iraq war
- Iraq and the European UnionIraq and the European UnionIraq – European Union relations refers to the international relations between the Republic of Iraq and the EU. Relations have been strained from the early 1990s but are now gradually progressing. Should Turkey's accession to the EU take place, Iraq will border the European...
- Osirak
Further reading
- David Styan, France & Iraq: Oil, Arms and French Policy Making in the Middle East, published by I.B.Tauris, 2006 ISBN 1845110455.
External links
- French Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Official Website
- Iraq Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Official Website
- Iraq / France Relations diplomatie.gouv.fr (English)