French President Emmanuel Macron is visiting an air base in Jordan this week to mark the holidays with French forces deployed abroad. As well as reiterating France's commitment to fighting terrorism, he is also expected to highlight French humanitarian efforts for civilians caught up in the Israel-Hamas conflict.
On Thursday evening Macron will address 350 soldiers from the base who are invited to a pre-Christmas dinner, prepared by presidential staff.
This is the first time that the president has visited an overseas French air base of its kind for Christmas.
On Thursday afternoon he will meet the King of Jordan, Abdullah II, whom he already met on 25 October during a tour of the Middle East.
This will be "an opportunity to take stock of the work that we have undertaken with our Jordanian partners in terms of humanitarian and medical aid to the civilian population of Gaza", the Elysee said.
Two new humanitarian aid cargo flights intended for civilians in the Gaza Strip have been scheduled to arrive in Amman, one on Thursday and another on 26 December.
On the eve of his departure, Macron reiterated the French position on the conflict between Israel and Hamas, now in its third month.
"As the weeks go by, we cannot let the idea take hold that to fight effectively against terrorism would mean razing everything in Gaza or indiscriminately attacking civilian populations and causing civilian victims," he said in an interview with the France 5 channel on Wednesday evening.
"This is why, while recognising Israel's right to protect itself while fighting against terrorism, we demand the protection of these people and a truce leading to a ceasefire on humanitarian grounds," he said.
Macron's trip to the Middle East also "highlights France's enduring commitment to the fight against terrorism", according to the president's office.
The French soldiers deployed in Jordan are part of Operation Chammal which, in addition to those based in Jordan, includes 250 French forces in Iraq and Syria. The mission aims to support Iraqi troops in the fight against the Islamic State group (IS).
It is part of the French component of Operation Inherent Resolve, an international campaign launched in 2014 against IS and coordinated by the United States.
The deaths of three French soldiers this summer in Iraq were a reminder that France remains engaged in the region where IS is still active. However, "the operation has evolved and focuses on advice, assistance and facilitation missions for the benefit of the Iraqi forces", the Elysee said.
French presence
In December 2022, Macron travelled with the navy to the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle off the coast of Egypt.
In previous years he travelled several times to Africa, to Chad and Côte d'Ivoire where the French army was then very involved in the fight against terrorism.
Meanwhile, on Friday, the last French soldiers will fly out of Niger after more than ten years of anti-jihadist struggle in the Sahel region.
Driven out of Mali, Burkina Faso and now Niger by hostile juntas, French forces have been partly redeployed in Eastern Europe since the start of the Russian offensive in Ukraine in February 2022.
(with AFP)
