At the top / War in the Middle East: France in a delicate position? While American and Israeli strikes, as well as Iranian responses, continue, Emmanuel Macron spoke on Tuesday, March 3 to address the situation in the Middle East. The President of the Republic declared that his “responsibility is to act” notably to support France’s allies, mentioning defense agreements with Qatar, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates. Emmanuel Macron therefore announced the sending of military reinforcements to the Middle East, including the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle in the Mediterranean. On the other side, the Iranian government warned European countries: “any such act against Iran would be considered a gesture of complicity with the aggressors,” said the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Esmaïl Baghaï. Due to disruptions in the supply through the Strait of Hormuz, an increase in the price of hydrocarbons is observed: the price of Brent oil exceeded $85 for the first time since July 2024. In response, the Ministry of Economy, Roland Lescure, sought to reassure: “there is no short-term supply risk in France, neither for gas nor for gasoline.” What are the economic and geopolitical consequences of the war in the Middle East for France?
Guests: – Jean-Louis Bourlanges, former President of the Foreign Affairs Committee, – Michel Fayad, geopolitician specializing in the Middle East, – General Dominique Trinquand, former head of the French military mission to the UN.
Columns: – “Word of the day” by Mariette Darrigrand – “What a story!” by Olivier Ravanello
THE BURNING QUESTION / How to save the Louvre Museum? Since the spectacular theft of the crown jewels on October 19, 2025, which revealed security flaws at the Louvre, the most visited museum in the world has faced numerous challenges. In addition to the burglary, the museum also had to close a gallery in November due to damage. In December 2025, the Louvre also faced a social movement by disgruntled employees protesting their working conditions, forcing the museum to close four times, resulting in over 2 million euros in losses. Lastly, the museum was the subject of an investigation into ticketing fraud. Before leaving the government, the Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati, had announced the abandonment of the “deep” reorganization mission of the Louvre as part of the parliamentary inquiry commission on the protection of national heritage and security. On Tuesday, February 24, weakened by the revelation of these numerous dysfunctions, the President of the Louvre, Laurence des Cars, resigned. She was supposed to be heard by the same commission on Tuesday, March 3 but canceled her appearance for the second time. How to preserve the cultural gem that the Louvre Museum represents?
Guests: – Alexis Corbière, deputy “Ecologist and Social” from Seine-Saint-Denis, – Céline Calvez, deputy “Together for the Republic” from Hauts-de-Seine, – Didier Rykner, Director of the publication of “La Tribune de l’Art”.
