French defense minister criticizes US for disengagement in the Middle East
November 23, 2019, 11:18 am

French defense minister criticizes US for disengagement in the Middle East

France’s armed forces minister Florence Parly speaking at the annual IISS Manama Dialogue in Bahrain. (Al Arabiya)

There is “gradual US disengagement” in the Middle East and the trend will continue “regardless of who wins the next election,” France’s armed forces minister Florence Parly said on Saturday.

In the Middle East “we have seen deliberate, gradual US disengagement” said Parly, in an address at the annual IISS Manama Dialogue in Bahrain.

Party said the US disengagement strategy became clear when US President Barack Obama did not respond militarily to Syrian chemical attacks in 2013. She did not mention current US President Donald Trump’s military action against Syria following an alleged chemical weapons attack in April 2018.

Party said the trend of US disengagement in the region is “quite clear and thus, likely irrespective of who wins the next election.” She said Turkey, Russia, and China have sought to fill the supposed vacuum.

She also criticized US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s announcement on Monday that the Trump administration no longer considers Israeli civilian settlements in the occupied West Bank illegal according to international law.

The whole body of international rules on Palestine, including United Nations resolutions, “are being spectacularly disregarded these days,” she said.

Following the criticism, Parly emphasized her own country’s support of its allies in the region.

“We will stand by our allies. You can count on us,” she said.

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”