French Ties | FORUM | France’s Defense Minister Michèle Alliot-Marie told a Forum audience last spring that Europe and the United States are positioned to overcome their differences on Iraq to work together in confronting a range of world challenges. The defense minister stressed the historic ties between Europe and North America, noting that they “have to agree on common objectives and how to achieve them.”

“A close strategic dialogue based on confidence is vital to better assess together the risks affecting our security,” she said. “Without it, there can be no lasting prosperity.”

The top global security priorities, according to Alliot-Marie, are bringing lasting peace to the Middle East, bringing “stabilization” to Iraq, stopping the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, encouraging development in Africa, and building stronger partnerships with Russia and China.

Alliot-Marie also discounted concerns that a strong European Union poses a threat to the United States, saying that the European Union instead represents a “prospective partner” with the United States and one that is “able to shoulder its share of responsibility” on the world stage.

“This is particularly important at a time when the end of the Cold War has given rise to an uncertain world,” she stated.

In response to a question from the audience regarding Iran, Alliot-Marie defended the EU’s strategy of using economic incentives to entice Tehran to further open its society to Western influence.

“We have a real capacity to influence them,” she said. “If we let them close back on themselves then we are faced with a true risk that they will develop nuclear weapons because they feel threatened.”