In a speech on Monday evening, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that he wants to realize a European initiative aimed at “anticipating” and “protecting against significant illegal migratory flows”. Macron’s vague policy goal was delivered while speaking about the situation in Afghanistan, and he provided no details about his plan.
Macron has been roundly condemned in the past for his inability to control migration to his own country, which he has responded to by censoring those who have criticized his policy failure, including banning France’s Generation Identity group and seeking to silence popular conservative commentator Eric Zemmour.
To ensure the evacuation, Macron said that he has decided to send two military aircraft and special forces to Afghanistan.
“It is our duty to protect those who help us: translators, drivers, cooks, and many others. Almost 800 people are already on French soil. There are several dozen more people for whom we remain fully mobilized,” added the head of the French state.
Afghanistan must not once again become a haven for terrorism as it was, Macron insisted, saying that France’s action “will mainly be aimed at continuing the active fight against Islamic terrorism in all these forms.”
Macron also called for a “responsible and united (international) response” and “political and diplomatic action”.
Title image: French President Emmanuel Macron attends a Defense Council at the Fort de Bregancon in Bormes-les-Mimosas, Southern France Wednesday Aug. 11, 2021. Eric Gaillard/Pool photo via AP)
