NATO – Jean-Yves Le Drian attending NATO ministerial video conference (Jan. 7, 2022)

Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian is attending NATO’s meeting of foreign affairs ministers via video conference on January 7; that meeting will focus on preparations for the dialogue with Russia on European security.

The Minister will underscore the importance of the dialogue resuming with Russia and the conditions and parameters based on which it may help strengthen strategic stability and security in Europe. He will underline the importance of Europe’s full engagement with the form and substance of this dialogue with Moscow. He will reaffirm France’s commitment and active participation in the implementation of measures to reassure NATO allies, particularly in relation to the enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) mechanism.

Under the French presidency of the EU Council, the minister will also report on conversations with the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, who is currently visiting Paris, with the aim of ensuring close coordination between EU efforts and those of NATO and the OSCE ahead of meetings with Russia and the informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brest on January 13-14.

Lastly, Jean-Yves Le Drian will speak about current efforts under way with Germany in the Normandy Format to de-escalate tensions and find a long-term diplomatic solution to the Ukraine question.