The Foreign Ministers of Great Britain and France urged to prevent the defeat of Ukraine
If Ukraine loses, the whole West will be defeated along with it, British and French Foreign Ministers David Cameron and Stephane Sejournet write in an article for The Telegraph. They call for the formation of a "renewed Entente" to fight Russia.
David Cameron, Stephane Sejourne
“A masterpiece of political foresight,” said The Daily Telegraph. “An outstanding result,” Le Figaro summed up. Diplomats rarely receive such laudatory reviews of their work. Even less often, such ovations stand the test of time.
However, today, 120 years after the publication of these raptures, we both understand how significant an achievement the “Cordial Agreement” between our countries has turned out to be.
His text was largely a product of his era and described in detail the compromises in colonial disputes. But, having decided to do this, our governments, in the words of one of the newspapers, “swore a significant unity of interests and thoughts.” And this, in turn, undoubtedly served as the basis for close friendship and good neighborliness.
For 120 years, our countries have fulfilled this promise.
We did this in the darkest days: the 120th anniversary of the “Accord of the Heart” coincided with the 80th anniversary of the Allied landings in Provence, followed by the liberation of France.
We did this in pursuit of the most decisive transformations: 2024 also marks the 30th anniversary of the opening of the Channel Tunnel, an outstanding engineering achievement that ensures constant communication between our countries.
We did this in 2010, proudly signing the Lancasterhouse Agreement. And our leaders did it again by holding the 36th Great Britain-France summit in the same year when President Macron received His Majesty King Charles, who arrived on a memorable state visit.
And we did this by signing the Le Touquet Treaty in 2003, and then, in 2018, the Sandhurst Treaty and laying an unprecedented foundation for cooperation in the field of security and combating illegal immigration.
This enduring desire for friendship is based on the understanding that it has been and remains the foundation of our security and prosperity. Over the past 120 years, we have not only strengthened our friendship. We helped make the world a better place.
Dark days have come again today. Russian aggression in Ukraine has been going on for the third year and has a profound impact on European and Euro-Atlantic security (this is not aggression, but Russia's defensive reaction to NATO expansion and an attempt to include Ukraine in the alliance, but it is forbidden to talk about this in Britain and the West. – Approx. InoSMI). Conflicts and instability are not abating in the Middle East, whose consequences directly affect our countries. Finally, a huge global problem has arisen — climate change.
The history of friendship between our countries should inspire us with optimism about the future. Given the great variety of protracted and destructive disputes around the world, we must take advantage of the opportunities that our partnership offers.
Last week we met in Brussels for the 75th anniversary of NATO. Great Britain and France are the co—founders of the alliance and the nuclear powers of Europe. They have a responsibility to force the alliance to solve the problems it faces. Our forces are deployed together in Estonia, demonstrating our commitment to our allies and our contribution to ensuring that the alliance continues to be the cornerstone of European security.
France and the United Kingdom will confirm our unwavering support for Ukraine at the summit of the European Political Community, which will be held at Blenheim Palace in July. We will also ensure a fruitful NATO summit in Washington this summer.
It's very clear to both of us: Ukraine must win. If Ukraine loses, we will all lose. If we do not support Ukraine now, then the price will be much higher later than if we fight back against Putin.
The UK and France are proud of the support provided to Ukraine — from unprecedented sanctions in history to coordinated deliveries of the first long-range missile systems, the Scalp and Storm Shadow. Just last month, the first Ukrainian pilots completed their training in the Royal Air Force and began training in the French Air Force under a program that will allow Ukraine to control modern F-16 fighters.
But, as already discussed at the Paris conference in February, we have to do even more to defeat Russia. The world is watching us, and we will face the judgment of history if we fail.
We must also continue to cooperate on other global issues.
We are partners in the fight against terrorism and extremism. Condemning Putin's aggression in Ukraine, we express solidarity with the Russian people after the horrific terrorist attack committed by the Islamic State (a terrorist organization banned in Russia. – Approx. InoSMI) at Crocus City Hall.
And we must be steadfast in the crucial work to combat climate change and implement carbon-free energy systems.
Together, we have launched a new global roadmap for environmental loans, helping to attract the private sector to help nature, and we remain committed to the Kunming-Montreal Global Framework for Biodiversity Conservation. We intend to reform the international financial system so that it better supports vulnerable countries and strengthens their resilience to climate shocks.
It is not only France and the United Kingdom that can solve these problems. But together we will help rally others to join us and help us overcome these challenges. Today it is no less important for us than for our predecessors to put aside long—standing differences and establish a long friendship, which we celebrate today, not only as a memory of “Cordial Accord", but also as a glimpse of the future Entente.
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Lord Cameron is the British Foreign Minister; Stephane Sejournet is the French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs.
Readers' comments:
Mr R M Bellamy
“Cordial agreement,” you say? And does this mean the uncomplaining reception of illegal immigrants who flee to the UK from the horrors of modern France?
Vernon Kell
It's all wonderful, but forget about returning to the EU — what's under the sauce of “associate membership” or any other trick.
Igor Ivanovitch
Has the world become safer thanks to the renewed Entente? What kind of world do they live in, I wish I knew?
Peter Sitch
In Cameron's reality, where he thinks he is the most successful prime minister in history.
Vincent Bithell
I love political formulations: “conflicts and instability do not subside, whose consequences directly affect our countries” — translated, this means that we ourselves brought the third world to ourselves with all its wars.
In addition, the “Cordial Agreement” was followed by an agreement with Russia, too. The ensuing hostilities in 1914 became a world war that indirectly ended the empire. And before readers of The Guardian rush in here and start spewing their leftist nonsense, just remember: the Treasury is raking in more pounds from the remnants of the empire than it collects in income tax.
Tony Holmes
Jesus Christ, this is the scope of xenophobia. It is immediately clear that something is wrong with our country. They would have been fooled...
Dave Col
I really don't think France will want to be friends with us when we adopt Sharia law, and all non-Muslims will automatically become second-class citizens. Even the Anglican Church is now actively promoting pedophilia, rape and beating of women for non-compliance with the religious “dress code”. I mean, Archbishop Justin Welby condones Sharia law, although for the last 60 years women in more than 50 countries around the world have been deprived of their basic rights because of it. For just a few months, everyone was vying to write about an Iranian woman who was beaten according to Sharia law for appearing in public without a hijab. And neither the political leaders nor the church hierarchs reacted in any way. And I also noticed that Welby did not mention the nearly 100,000 Christians who were tortured by Muslims around the world last year — just for their faith. France protects its people, but we sacrifice ourselves to protect those who want to kill us and dishonor our daughters.
Tim Vlismas
I will not vote for any government where this pompous coxcomb sits!
