TOP STORY

In New York yesterday, Emmanuel Macron announced that "France now recognizes the State of Palestine." Speaking at the United Nations, he fulfilled the promise he made this summer. The aim is to revive the prospect of a two-state solution, which has been threatened by the war in Gaza and continued settlement activity in the West Bank. This unprecedented move by a French head of state was greeted with loud applause from the assembly.

Several countries have followed suit or are preparing to do so. The United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Portugal recognized Palestine on Sunday. Others, such as Belgium, Luxembourg, and Denmark, say they are ready to take the plunge. Emmanuel Macron also co-organized a conference with Saudi Arabia, marked by the notable absence of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. At his side, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas reaffirmed his commitment to reform via videoconference and promised to organize elections excluding Hamas once a ceasefire is achieved.

Israel's reaction was swift. Boycotting the meeting, Benjamin Netanyahu's government denounced a "reward" offered to Hamas and brandished the threat of annexations in the West Bank. The United States, also opposed to this recognition, could use its veto to block any international initiative in this direction. Emmanuel Macron, seeking to reassure, insisted that recognition does not detract from Israel's rights and aims to build a common political horizon.

The French president outlined a three-step "path to peace": an immediate ceasefire and the release of hostages, the stabilization and reconstruction of Gaza under transitional administration, and the disarmament of Hamas with the support of an international mission under a UN mandate. The European Union and Indonesia have said they are ready to participate in this force. But the prospect remains distant, with Israel already announcing that it will not attend the Security Council meeting on Gaza. On Friday, Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly. Le Monde

Nearly 80% of UN members recognize the State of Palestine. With yesterday's latest wave of recognition, the majority of European Union countries and UN Security Council members have now done so.

IN SHORT

🇨🇦 Canada - 🇵🇸 Palestine • Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney defended his government's recognition of the Palestinian state, announced on Sunday, arguing that the viability of a negotiated peace is "seriously eroded" by the actions of Israel and Hamas. In a speech at the UN yesterday, he criticized Israel's policy of accelerated settlement in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, as well as settler violence, while condemning the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas. This decision, supported by France, puts Ottawa at odds with Washington, with Donald Trump even threatening to complicate trade negotiations with Canada. Carney also mentioned Canadian participation in "large-scale" humanitarian aid for Gaza as part of a peace plan

🇺🇸 United States • Speaking at the UN, Donald Trump harshly criticized the institution, calling it ineffective for peace and mentioning technical problems during his speech. He denounced the recognition of the Palestinian state as a "reward" for Hamas after October 7, while accusing China and India of indirectly financing the war in Ukraine through their purchases of Russian oil. Calling climate change a "hoax," he also attacked the UN for its support of migrants, claiming that it "funds an attack on the West." Trump finally lambasted Europe's migration policy, warning that "your countries are going straight to hell."

🇺🇸 United States - 🇵🇱 Poland - 🇪🇪 Estonia • US Secretary of State Marco Rubio tempered the remarks of Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who had threatened to shoot down Russian planes violating Polish airspace after several incursions into NATO airspace. Rubio clarified that interceptors would only act in the event of a confirmed attack, emphasizing that current responses are limited to standard interceptions. These statements fuel European allies' fears about US commitment to Russia, while Warsaw and Tallinn have invoked Article 4 of the NATO treaty to consult with their allies on a coordinated response. The Alliance has promised a "robust" response, including military means if necessary.

NATO - 🇷🇺 Russia • Russia is stepping up provocations at NATO's borders, with drone incursions into Poland (September 10) and Romania, as well as a violation of Estonian airspace by three fighter jets (September 19), while unclaimed drones disrupted airports in Copenhagen and Oslo. These actions, at a time when Russia's summer offensive in Ukraine has cost 220,000 lives for minimal territorial gains (less than 2,000 km²), appear to be masking Moscow's strategic failure. NATO, divided and weakened by the US disengagement under Trump, is struggling to respond: Operation Eastern Sentry, launched after the incursion into Poland, has not prevented further violations, and Europe, whose defense budgets remain four times lower than those of the United States, is slow to fill the security vacuum. Trump, after making new sanctions against Russia conditional on their prior adoption by allies, is content to reaffirm NATO's defense guarantee without any concrete commitment to Ukraine.

🇦🇷 Argentina • The US Treasury has pledged its support for Argentina, which is in the midst of a financial crisis, promising to explore "all options" to stabilize its economy, including purchasing pesos or sovereign debt. The peso has lost 17% of its value in three months, and the Central Bank has spent $1.1 billion to prop it up. Javier Milei, visiting New York, was scheduled to meet with Donald Trump to request additional financial aid, following a $42 billion plan granted by the IMF and other institutions in April. This support comes one month before crucial legislative elections, as his popularity plummets (53.7% disapproval rating) and his party suffered a recent defeat in Buenos Aires.

🇧🇫 Burkina Faso - 🇲🇱 Mali - 🇳🇪 Niger • The three countries of the Sahel Alliance announced yesterday their immediate withdrawal from the Rome Statute and the International Criminal Court (ICC), denouncing "selective justice." Led by military juntas, they accuse the ICC of disproportionately targeting Africa while ignoring, in their view, crimes committed by Western powers. This collective withdrawal is part of a trend of rejection of international institutions, following years of tension with the international community.

🇬🇳 Guinea • Guineans turned out en masse for the referendum on the new constitution, with a provisional turnout of 91.4% after 80% of the votes had been counted, according to the director general of elections. The "yes" vote is expected to win with more than 80% of the vote, marking strong support for the text proposed by the ruling junta. This vote, held in a context of political transition, could pave the way for a gradual return to civilian rule, although the opposition and part of civil society called for a boycott, denouncing the process as "non-inclusive."

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