Rabat – Former French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin strongly criticized US foreign policy and growing global instability on Friday during a televised interview on LCI, warning that the world is entering a more dangerous and chaotic phase.
Speaking about recent US strikes on Iran, de Villepin said the nature of modern warfare is shifting toward widespread destruction. “We are moving toward a logic of destruction… of civilian infrastructure,” he said, adding that such actions risk violating international law and could amount to “war crimes” or “crimes against humanity.”
He argued that US actions are contributing to global disorder rather than stability. “American power is becoming a negative power… a power of disorder,” he said, describing the situation as a sign of “imperial decline.”
‘The other side of history’
For the veteran French diplomat, Trump’s war on Iran is perhaps one of the most eloquent confirmation of the fact that America-led liberal global order has “crossed to the other side of history.”
The former prime minister also rejected arguments that military intervention is necessary to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. He insisted that the threat had been overstated and pointed to international assessments suggesting Iran had not resumed a full nuclear weapons program after earlier strikes.
Instead, he criticized the abandonment of diplomacy, particularly after the US withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal under Donald Trump. “If there was doubt, we had to choose the path that removes doubt,” he said. “That path was negotiation… to obtain guarantees that the nuclear program would be abandoned.”
The US and Israel launched intense strikes on Iran on February 28 in the middle of talks between Tehran and Washington on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
De Villepin warned that current policies could have the opposite effect, as they could encourage more countries to pursue nuclear weapons. He cited countries like Saudi Arabia and Turkiye as examples of states that may draw such conclusions.
He also raised concerns about the broader consequences of military intervention, referencing past conflicts in Iraq, Libya, and Syria. “Is chaos more reassuring than a threat that can be contained?” he asked. “The lesson of Iraq… is that what will emerge from the ruins… will be instability.”
Of Europe’s role in the current state of global affairs, de Villepin expressed frustration at what he sees as a lack of unity and leadership. “My main regret… is that Europe is not capable of rising to the level of history and speaking with one voice,” he said. He called for European countries to firmly oppose US policy and avoid being drawn into the war.
He went further, suggesting that France and other European nations should refuse military cooperation linked to the conflict. “Absolutely,” he said when asked whether France should refuse US military overflights related to operations in the Middle East.
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De Villepin also criticized what he described as a broader failure of Western strategy, arguing that military victories often lead to long-term political and moral defeat. “You can win a war militarily while losing it strategically… morally and politically,” he said.
He also spoke about the humanitarian impact of war. “We are playing with the lives of people,” he said, referring to strikes that destroy residential buildings and kill civilians. The ongoing war claimed the lives of thousands of people, with Iran and Lebanon the most affected.
De Villepin warned that the conflict could trigger a lasting economic crisis domestically, particularly through rising oil prices. He urged transparency from governments and targeted support for vulnerable populations affected by rising fuel costs.
The French politician concluded by calling for long-term energy reforms, including a major investment plan.
