"Anglo-French tensions - more than just submarines" Topic

It seems there are more things in play than mere submarines when it comes to Anglo-French tensions:

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1. UK is undermining French efforts in Libya. Incidentally the UK is effectively siding with Turkey, UAE and RUSSIA in this instance. French tried to counter with their own rapprochement with Russia.

2. UK opposed French efforts to stop Turkish sabre rattling near Cyprus. Britain spent effort trying to get the Greeks give in to Turkish goals.

3. Differences in opinions on Turkish involvement in Syria. France fears Turkish expansionism whereas Russia supports it.

4. British support for Turkish drone project despite Canada and USA placing arms embargo here. These drones are one of Turkey's premier systems in Libya and Syria.

5. UK-French fishing dispute including French trying to storm Jersey waters with fishing boats.

An unmentioned one is the ongoing illegal immigrant dispute.

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I'll add my own commentary – overall UK pro-American policy is at odds with EU policy especially Russia.

Continental Europeans want good relations with Russia including continued oil/gas trade.

UK is happy to follow US policy direction and stir the pot in Russia such as sailing a destroyer near the key Russian naval base of Sevastapol.

Europe also wants to deter China but it does not want to inflame the situation any further unlike US, UK and Australia.

I think the dawn of the Anglo French rivalry was centuries ago.

Our government aren't the sharpest tools in the box and seem to have a very 19th Century attitude to the RoW. Maybe they are hoping to divert us from our increasing domestic woes to foreign issues with "dastardly" France, EU & China?

ARDO, in regards to your item 3 – we're facing a pretty bad crisis in Syria where Turkey is moving more of their troops into buffer zone and Idlib area. They're afraid that if Syrian forces will attack pro-turkish militants they and their families will flood into Turkey and that's not what will make Erdogan happy.
We're very much against Turkish presence in Syria. We've even organized a meeting with Ilham Ahmed from Kurdish PYD in our ministry of Foreign Affairs to show to Erdogan how unhappy we are…

Our government(s) aren't the sharpest tools in the box and seem to have a very 19th Century attitude to the RoW. Maybe they are hoping to divert us from our increasing domestic woes to foreign issues with "dastardly" France, EU & China?

This. Exactly.

Well that's it ! I'm tearing up all my vintage pics of Bridgett Bardot !!!!

Legion 4
Normally I am in disagreement with you but very much so right now. For God's sake show some restraint. Don't take it out on BB. The French got it right, "God created Woman". Now if you want to throw Jane Fonda under the but (she has a French connection) I'll help you do it AND buy you a beer after you get the blood off of the tires. H

Our government aren't the sharpest tools in the box

Probably the understatement of the century.

Slightly surprised that we are supposedly being 'friendly' with the Turks – not something I've seen any reporting on the British press, which certainly don't hold back when it comes to reporting on Turkey and particularly the current regimes treatment of journalists. If I had to guess it probably has less to do with some grand over geopolitical schemes (see 'tools' comment), as suggested by the article, and more with a desperate desire get trade deals with anyone, of any value, before the electorate wakes up…

And as far as Cyprus goes the UK still supports a federal solution which the Turkish Cypriot government (I assume a position endorsed by Ankara) doesn't.

Normally I am in disagreement with you but very much so right now. For God's sake show some restraint. Don't take it out on BB. The French got it right, "God created Woman". Now if you want to throw Jane Fonda under the but (she has a French connection) I'll help you do it AND buy you a beer after you get the blood off of the tires.

Well it is good to see that at least we both can agree on something …

So yes BB will stay in my e-collection, for historical purposes of course …

Jan Fonda… yep still not a fan of hers … 👎👎 🚌

Cheers ! 🍻

Slightly surprised that we are supposedly being 'friendly' with the Turks

Maybe not being overtly friendly but more getting in the way of the French goals?

Maybe not being overtly friendly but more getting in the way of the French goals?

I would doubt actual strategy, more like the floundering, is just giving the impression of it. Our government is apparently taken back by the French loosing it over the sub deal.