Former French Prime Minister Michel Barnier called, in a televised interview on March 8, for managing the fallout from US and Israeli strikes in Iran, emphasizing the need to ramp up arms production to avert a future shortage. He criticized the lack of a European defense policy and proposed an active role for France in the region.
Michel Barnier, former prime minister and Les Républicains deputy for Paris, spoke on Sunday, March 8, in the program 'Questions politiques,' broadcast on France Inter, Franceinfo, and Le Monde. He addressed the repercussions of US and Israeli strikes in Iran, urging management both on the ground and regarding armament stockpiles.
'Sooner or later, [in a future] perhaps quite near, there will be a shortage of armaments, weapons, munitions,' he warned, noting that this is already evident in some countries and possibly in the United States. He highlighted the high costs of defensive tools and missile interception systems.
The lesson drawn, according to Mr. Barnier, is clear: 'one must not run short of munitions, and therefore it is necessary to produce, produce, produce.' This message is particularly aimed at Europe, whose current lack of a common defense policy he laments.
Regarding France's role, he recalled military solidarity agreements with three states in the region, including the United Arab Emirates. In Bahrain, where Iranian missiles and drones strike randomly, France could, in line with these commitments, help destroy launch bases. For Lebanon, Paris should assist the government in bolstering its army to achieve the demilitarization of Hezbollah, a promise not fully realized. Finally, he proposed evaluating the actions of UNIFIL, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, which remains a spectator despite facing attacks.
