France's Policy in Libya

1

• France's Policy in Libya

• Historical, Military, and Current
• Events Perspectives

2

• Historical Perspectives

• ? Libya - Italian Colony from 1911-1943
• ? Administered by the British and French until
  1951
• ? Constitutional Monarchy beginning in 1951
• ? Coup détat in 1969 led by Muammar Gaddafi
• ? Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
• ? Jamahiriya meant to be a form of direct
  democracy
• ? Absence of political parties
• ? The Green Book
• ? Gaddafi remained dictator in reality

3

• History continued

• ? Arab Spring spread into Libya in February 2011
• ? Libyan government reacts violently
• ? Scope of conflict expands quickly
• ? Government versus rebels
• ? Pro Gaddafi forces gain advantage leading up to
  March
• 2011
• ? Rebel forces surrounded

4

• France and Libya- Economic Relations

• ? OPEC Member
• ? NOC-National Oil Corporation
• ? Natural Gas
• ? Oil
• ? Trade deals

5

• France's Recognition of Libyan Civil War

• ? France, England as first countries to recognize
  Libyan
• rebels and National Transitional Council
• ? Oil repairing France's "brand" in M.E.
• ? US followed suit, less of high-profile role
• ? European Union held back saw France as
  grandstanding

6

• Actions to Rally Support

• ? March 2011- Sarkozy and Cameron schedule EU
  summit
• for all 27 members to discuss Libya

• ? Rhetoric
• "This deliberate use of military force against
  civilians is utterly unacceptable. As warned by
  the security council, these acts may amount to
  crimes against humanity. All those involved in
  deciding, planning or executing such actions must
  know that they will be held accountable."
  (Evidence for legal backing via ICC terminology)
  Joint Letter by Cameron and Sarkozy
• "I think it is the moment for Europe to
  understand we should show real ambition about
  recognizing that what's happening in north Africa
  is a democratic awakening." (Grand language
  suggesting the need to be on the "right side" of
  history)
• ? Legal Cover for Action
• Sarkozy mentions use of chemical weapons/air
  strikes justifies military action under Geneva
  Convention Sarkozy calls for targeted
  air-strikes

• ? Sarkozy's March 20th Meeting

7

• Results

• ? UN Security Council establishes no-fly zone
  March 17
• ? Commencement of NATO action- March 19
• ? NATO Naval Blockade- March 23

8

• Military Involvement

• Pre Military Involvement
• ? UN Resolution freezing Gaddafi's assets due to
  human
• rights violations

• New PM Alain Juppé
• ? More aggressive than Alliot-Marie
• ? Laid down conditions for a no-fly zone then
  once violence
• increased decided to change policy

9

• Alain Juppé's Guidelines for French
• Involvement

• Stipulated that for a legitimate military
  campaign
• ? Needed UN Resolution
• ? UN Security Council Resolution 1973
• ? Not be a NATO Operation
• ? Arab League acceptance
• ? At least symbolic Arab military stipulation

• Policy seen as a return to French dominance in
  the spread of
• democracy and gave Sarkozy a boos in the poles

10

• Opération Harmattan

• Key People
• ? Nicolas Sarkozy, Alain Juppé, Edouard Guillaud,
  Elrick
• Irastoraza, Jean-Paul Paloméros Perre-François
  Forissier
• France had lead in role of Libyan intervention
• Goal to enforce a no-fly zone
• France recognizes National Transitional Council
  as legitimate
• leaders of Libya
• Conference in Paris March, 19 2011
• ? French started bombing with French Dassault
  Rafale

11

• The End of Military Involvement

• France has time limit on troop deployment, so had
  to vote to
• extend military presence
• ? Very little protest in vote, only Communists
  voted against it

• On October 27th, after Gaddafi was killed, NATO
  voted to end
• occupation and pulled out October 31st

12

• Future Outlook

• ? National Transitional Council
• ? International Recognition

13

• Questions

• ? Was France justified in militarily intervening
  in Libya?
• ? Do you think the United States should have
  played a larger
• role in the NATO mission or was it sufficient?

14

• Works Cited

• ? Willsher, Kim. "Libya and France Sign 200m
  Arms Deal World News Guardian.co.uk."
• Latest News, Sport and Comment from the Guardian
  The Guardian. 3 Aug. 2007. Web. 13
• Nov. 2011. lthttp//www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/a
  ug/03/france.libyagt.
• ? Stratton, Allegra. "France Signs Â10bn Trade
  Deal with Libya World News Guardian.co.
• uk." Latest News, Sport and Comment from the
  Guardian The Guardian. 10 Dec. 2007. Web.
• 13 Nov. 2011. lthttp//www.guardian.co.uk/world/200
  7/dec/10/france.libyagt.
• ? Mobbs, Philip M. "The Mineral Industry of
  Libya." Web. 13 Nov. 2011. lthttp//minerals.usgs.
  
• gov/minerals/pubs/country/2001/lymyb01.pdfgt.

15

• Works Cited