24 May, 2009

Here come the French...

The rather charming (my personal opion btw) Sarkozy is here in the UAE on an official visit, with one of his 'to-do' lists being opening a French military base in the capital:

French President Nicolas Sarkozy is set to open France's first permanent military base in the Gulf on Monday, giving Paris a strategic role in the region and a key supply route for oil.

France will be joining Britain and the United States as the few western powers to have a permanent presence in the Gulf and "Peace Camp" is the first French base opened since the end of the colonial era.

The move is widely seen as a sign of France's tougher stance on Iran since Sarkozy took office in 2007, fueled by concerns over Tehran's nuclear programme.

"We are deliberately taking a deterrent stance," said an aide to Sarkozy. "If Iran were to attack, we would effectively be attacked also."

Sarkoy also told UAE official news agency Wam: "Be assured that France is on your side in the event your security is at risk.

More here.
Posted by Em at 7:53 pm
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15 comments:

Anonymous said...

I hope sharjah opens an iranian base.

"Our security" is only threatened by the likes of France... and the KSA. Iran isnt a threat. It's one of those over indulged "threats" that the west and media cook up.

Like the swine flu. and it worked, we now have more swine on our land. Great.

24 May, 2009 22:02
Emirati said...

Our security is threatened by everyone. Strike attack aircraft, a military draft for all between ages 18-50, and nuclear weapons.

The three things we need to defend ourselves

25 May, 2009 00:08
Al-ain Rose said...

I hope sharjah opens an iranian base.
...
I hope u die for what u said.

"Our security" is only threatened by the likes of France... and the KSA. Iran isnt a threat.
....
O_o

I think you need to get a life. That's my advice.

25 May, 2009 01:12
Al-ain Rose said...

we need a nuclear bomb. :(

25 May, 2009 01:17
Kyle said...

The hell with military coop & stuff. Merci but non merci!

How about some bistros for a change? And croissants & brioche, & in vino veritas!

25 May, 2009 07:58
Anonymous said...

... isn't sharjah more likely to open a Saudi base ? :)

25 May, 2009 09:23
Proud Emirati said...

Dubai probably has better relation with KSA that Sharjha will ever be, stop making up stuff u have no idea about.

25 May, 2009 09:55
Dubai Jazz said...

Sarkozy is the man!

Let’s have a recap of his tour de force in the last two years: He brokered an end to the Caucasus war last August. He reinvented and re-invigorated France's role in the Levant. His popularity in Europe outstripped Berlusconi's and Merkel's combined. And he single-handedly obliterated the pervasiveness of Carla Bruni nude albums around the world.

25 May, 2009 11:07
i*maginate said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
25 May, 2009 13:50
Anonymous said...

i*maginate said...
'i hope u die'

'stop making stuff up'

- the language of those who can't defend themselves.

For once I agree with you.

Emirati said...
Our security is threatened by everyone. Strike attack aircraft, a military draft for all between ages 18-50, and nuclear weapons.

The three things we need to defend ourselves

Agreed. Though a "draft" isnt needed, I agree that every should do 2 years in the military and then one month a year after that for 20 years.

That is what should have happened instead of the 1/2 baked "training" during highschool. Does that still go on btw?

I think you need to get a life. That's my advice.

I think you shouldnt be such a child and attack people who dont agree with you before even understanding their position.

You just prove yourself to be arrogant (not the good kind either)

As for me getting a life. Sadly I do. I say sadly because 24 hours arent enough these days. I will gladly trade my life for yours for a week.

25 May, 2009 16:31
Al-ain Rose said...

Agreed. Though a "draft" isnt needed, I agree that every should do 2 years in the military and then one month a year after that for 20 years.
...
and 2 hrs a day in the Iranian base that u wished to be opened in sharjah. hehe
good Idea btw.
and I'm not like what u said, I just wanted you to stop acting as if u were a seasoned political analyzer that lead you to say unreasonable stuff.it's just for ur own good. understood?
& whatever u say, I'm not even gonna answer u.
now go plz and enjoy ur ... "meaningful" life!

25 May, 2009 20:14
Anonymous said...

I believe that France has a much different approach to international relations than any other western country in the region.
They are here to make business, that's for sure, but they never forget to bring their lot of relations, ties and multi-cooperation in the package!
They have already transfered sensitive military technology to the UAE, educated many UAE Nationals in their different army corpses, and are ready to transfer nuclear technology as well.
Just look in depth how Abu Dhabi could benefit from their civil engineering...

France is now ready to use its consulate network to dispatch UAE diplomats where UAE has no embassy, I have NEVER heard of such a strong bilateral cooperation !

Above the technology, beyond industrial and military cooperation, I have met a few French Nationals in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and never found them to be arrogant as the Anglo-Saxons can be. They don't come here to teach lessons like the UK or the USA, and that's highly valuable to me...

Nour

26 May, 2009 08:59
Dubai Jazz said...

Nour,

Totally agree. Especially the last part!

26 May, 2009 21:54
unJane said...

@ anon 16:31
There's a 'good kind' of arrogance?

26 May, 2009 23:10
Anonymous said...

I have met a few French Nationals in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and never found them to be arrogant as the Anglo-Saxons can be. They don't come here to teach lessons like the UK or the USA, and that's highly valuable to me...

You have met a few. I have met and work with many. and although I am sure that the British have the "high and mighty" bug more than anyone, the french are far worse than the Americans.

Nationals of Germany and the Nordic countries, spain, and eastern Europe are almost without that.

Everything you listed can be applied to the US as well. Given the UAE top of the line military tech? yeah, trained UAE military personnel? yeah, will be a partner in us achieving a nuclear reactor? yeah.

70% of that can also be applied to the UK. So what you said isnt specific to France, and has no real point. Not sure what your argument was.

As for the UAE diplomats being housed by the French... just another way to keep tabs on and control. Very simple. (you have never heard of it because it's never happened)

The WHOLE situation between France and the UAE is this: Keep your friends close and enemies closer.

Simple.

27 May, 2009 08:05

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