Changes

|capital-raw =

|capital-raw =

|government =

|government =

|government-raw =[[Freemason]] [[Republic]]

|government-raw =[[Semi-presidential republic]]

|language =French

|language =French

|king         =

|king         =

|chancellor =

|chancellor =

|chancellor-raw =

|chancellor-raw =

|pm         =Gabriel Attal

|pm         =Michel Barnier

|pm-raw         =

|pm-raw         =

|area         =260,558 sq mi

|area         =260,558 sq mi

|pop         =66,666,667 (2020)

|pop         =66,666,667 (2020)

|pop-basis =

|pop-basis =

}}

}}

:''For the impact on left-wing policies on France and the rest of Europe, see [[European migrant crisis]]''

:''For the impact on left-wing policies on France and the rest of Europe, see [[European migrant crisis]]''

'''France''' is a republic in [[Europe]] and is about the size of [[Texas]]. It has the second largest population in [[Western Europe]], roughly the same as the [[United Kingdom]] but behind [[Germany]]. The elected president is the dominant figure in the country's politics. The French national currency, or franc, was phased out and replaced by the [[euro]] in 1999-2002. France is the world's most popular tourist destination with 80 million visitors in 2011.<ref>"[http://geography.about.com/od/economic-geography/a/20-Most-Popular-Countries-As-Tourist-Destinations.htm 20 Most Popular Countries as Tourist Destinations]".</ref> The Eiffel Tower in Paris is world's most visited tourist attraction. [[Nuclear power]] produces 78 percent of the country's electricity.

'''France''', officially the '''French Republic''', is a country located primarily in [[western Europe]]. The elected president is the dominant figure in the country's politics. The French national currency, or franc, was phased out and replaced by the [[euro]] in 1999-2002. France is the world's most popular tourist destination with 80 million visitors in 2011.<ref>"[http://geography.about.com/od/economic-geography/a/20-Most-Popular-Countries-As-Tourist-Destinations.htm 20 Most Popular Countries as Tourist Destinations]".</ref> The Eiffel Tower in Paris is world's most visited tourist attraction. [[Nuclear power]] produces 78 percent of the country's electricity.

In ancient times, the area that is today France was included in the Roman province of Gaul. Together with Germany and Northern Italy, it was part of the Carolingian Empire. The earliest document attesting to a distinct French language is the Oaths of Strassbourg of 842. In 843, the Treaty of Verdun divided the Carolingian Empire into French, German, and Italian kingdoms.

In ancient times, the area that is today France was included in the Roman province of Gaul. Together with Germany and Northern Italy, it was part of the Carolingian Empire. The earliest document attesting to a distinct French language is the Oaths of Strassbourg of 842. In 843, the Treaty of Verdun divided the Carolingian Empire into French, German, and Italian kingdoms.

[[File:396px-Joan of arc miniature graded.jpg|175px|thumbnail|Saint [[Joan of Arc]] is the most important figure of French history.]]

[[File:396px-Joan of arc miniature graded.jpg|175px|thumbnail|Saint [[Joan of Arc]] is the most important figure of French history.]]

The Waffen-SS Division Charlemagne was formed in September 1944 from French collaborationists, many of whom were already serving in various other German units. Named after [[Charlemagne]], the 9th-century Frankish emperor, it superseded the existing Legion of French Volunteers Against Bolshevism formed in 1941 within the German Army and the SS-Volunteer ''Sturmbrigade'' France formed in July 1943.  The division also included French recruits from other German military and paramilitary formations and ''Miliciens'', who were created by the Vichy regime to help fight the French Resistance.   

The [[Waffen-SS]] Division Charlemagne was formed in September 1944 from French collaborationists, many of whom were already serving in various other German units. Named after [[Charlemagne]], the 9th-century Frankish emperor, it superseded the existing Legion of French Volunteers Against Bolshevism formed in 1941 within the German Army and the SS-Volunteer ''Sturmbrigade'' France formed in July 1943.  The division also included French recruits from other German military and paramilitary formations and ''Miliciens'', who were created by the [[Vichy regime]] to help fight the [[French Resistance]].   

The massacre at Oradour-sur-Glane on June 10, 1944, four days after the [[Normandy Invasion]] commenced, was committed by the SS Panzer Division Das Reich.  The entire village, 642 people, men, women, children, and the elderly were killed, allegedly for harboring resistance fighters and to make an example for other villages.  The village was burnt following the massacre.  The village was not rebuilt and remains in the condition the Nazis left it as a memorial.<ref>https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/oradour-sur-glane</ref>  70 years later, the Ukrainian [[Azov Battalion]] notorious for [[war crimes]] and massacres of civilians in the [[Donbas]],<ref>http://www.indiandefencereview.com/what-forced-a-russian-response-in-ukraine/</ref> adopted the same  Wolfsangel insignia of the SS Division Das Reich; the 5th Republic of "democratic Europe" supported the Azov Nazis with money, training and weapons.<ref>https://twitter.com/PhilippeMurer/status/1500086419477389318</ref>

The massacre at Oradour-sur-Glane on June 10, 1944, four days after the [[Normandy Invasion]] commenced, was committed by the SS Panzer Division Das Reich.  The entire village, 642 people, men, women, children, and the elderly were killed, allegedly for harboring resistance fighters and to make an example for other villages.  The village was burnt following the massacre.  The village was not rebuilt and remains in the condition the Nazis left it as a memorial.<ref>https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/oradour-sur-glane</ref>  70 years later, the Ukrainian [[Azov Battalion]] notorious for [[war crimes]] and massacres of civilians in the [[Donbas]],<ref>http://www.indiandefencereview.com/what-forced-a-russian-response-in-ukraine/</ref> adopted the same  Wolfsangel insignia of the SS Division Das Reich; the 5th Republic of "democratic Europe" supported the Azov Nazis with money, training and weapons.<ref>https://twitter.com/PhilippeMurer/status/1500086419477389318</ref>

Other religious groups include Evangelicals, Christian Scientists, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons). Membership in evangelical churches is growing (with as many as 400,000 adherents, according to February 2007 press reports), including African-style "prosperity" churches, especially in the suburbs of Paris, in large part because of increased participation by African and Antillean immigrants. According to the press, there are approximately 31,000 Mormons. The Church of Scientology has an estimated 5,000 to 20,000 members.

Other religious groups include Evangelicals, Christian Scientists, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons). Membership in evangelical churches is growing (with as many as 400,000 adherents, according to February 2007 press reports), including African-style "prosperity" churches, especially in the suburbs of Paris, in large part because of increased participation by African and Antillean immigrants. According to the press, there are approximately 31,000 Mormons. The Church of Scientology has an estimated 5,000 to 20,000 members.

==Government==

==Government==

On May 19, 2022, during a visit to [[Romania]], Macron commented on NATO provocations against [[Transnistria]]: “The recent incidents in Transnistria show that we cannot exclude that the conflict will spread to neighboring countries," and that France “intends to keep a special eye on the regional security situation and any possible encroachment on [[Moldova]]’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”  The Romanian Ministry of Defense announced that France would deploy a special air defense unit in Romania at the Capu-Midia military base, in the Constanta district

On May 19, 2022, during a visit to [[Romania]], Macron commented on NATO provocations against [[Transnistria]]: “The recent incidents in Transnistria show that we cannot exclude that the conflict will spread to neighboring countries," and that France “intends to keep a special eye on the regional security situation and any possible encroachment on [[Moldova]]’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”  The Romanian Ministry of Defense announced that France would deploy a special air defense unit in Romania at the Capu-Midia military base, in the Constanta district

===Foreign Relations===

===Foreign Relations===

====Nordstream pipeline====

====Nordstream pipeline====

On February 7, 2022 Michael Hudson, a research professor of Economics at University of Missouri, Kansas City, wrote:

On February 7, 2022 [[Michael Hudson]], a research professor of Economics at University of Missouri, Kansas City, wrote:

{{quotebox-float|"The only way left for U.S. diplomats to block European purchases [of Russian gas] is to goad Russia into a military response and then claim that avenging this response outweighs any purely national economic interest. As hawkish Under-Secretary of State for Political Affairs, [[Victoria Nuland]], explained in a State Department press briefing on January 27 [2022]: “If Russia invades Ukraine one way or another [[Nord Stream 2]] will not move forward.” The problem is to create a suitably offensive incident and depict Russia as the aggressor.<ref>https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2022/02/michael-hudson-americas-real-adversaries-are-its-european-and-other-allies.html</ref>}}

{{quotebox-float|"The only way left for U.S. diplomats to block European purchases [of Russian gas] is to goad Russia into a military response and then claim that avenging this response outweighs any purely national economic interest. As hawkish Under-Secretary of State for Political Affairs, [[Victoria Nuland]], explained in a State Department press briefing on January 27 [2022]: “If Russia invades Ukraine one way or another [[Nord Stream 2]] will not move forward.” The problem is to create a suitably offensive incident and depict Russia as the aggressor.<ref>https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2022/02/michael-hudson-americas-real-adversaries-are-its-european-and-other-allies.html</ref>}}

In October 2022 ''Politico'' reported that French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire told the French National Assembly,

In October 2022 ''Politico'' reported that French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire told the French National Assembly,

A former French Army soldier who spent several weeks in Ukraine delivering medical equipment and supplies told Sud Radio:

A former French Army soldier who spent several weeks in Ukraine delivering medical equipment and supplies told Sud Radio:

{{quotebox-float|"There, on the spot I saw [[war crimes]]. I saw a lot of war crimes. The only crimes I saw during the days I was there were perpetrated by Ukrainian forces...I saw Russian soldiers who were taken prisoner, bound and badly beaten…They were brought [to a detention area] in groups of three or four in minibuses. Every soldier exiting the minibus received a bullet from a Kalashnikov rifle in the knee…Those who admitted that they were officers got shot in the head...When I returned to France, I was extremely shocked by what the people who were invited on the TV shows were saying. A chasm exists between what I see and hear on TV and what I saw on the spot. For me it’s abominable...It shocks me enormously that Europe still gives weapons to a force which in my view are neo-Nazis, who have neo-Nazi insignia. We don’t talk about it. It’s an [[SS]] insignia brandished across Ukraine, everywhere...No one in Ukraine seems concerned about this, while we arm them with European weapons. They go off and commit war crimes, I saw this myself."<ref>https://youtu.be/ZoKnhXnp-Zk</ref>}}

{{quotebox-float|"There, on the spot I saw [[war crimes]]. I saw a lot of war crimes. The only crimes I saw during the days I was there were perpetrated by Ukrainian forces...I saw Russian soldiers who were taken prisoner, bound and badly beaten…They were brought [to a detention area] in groups of three or four in minibuses. Every soldier exiting the minibus received a bullet from a Kalashnikov rifle in the knee…Those who admitted that they were officers got shot in the head...When I returned to France, I was extremely shocked by what the people who were invited on the TV shows were saying. A chasm exists between what I see and hear on TV and what I saw on the spot. For me it’s abominable...It shocks me enormously that Europe still gives weapons to a force which in my view are neo-Nazis, who have neo-Nazi insignia. We don’t talk about it. It’s an [[SS]] insignia brandished across Ukraine, everywhere...No one in Ukraine seems concerned about this, while we arm them with European weapons. They go off and commit war crimes, I saw this myself."<ref>https://youtu.be/ZoKnhXnp-Zk</ref>}}

Former President [[Nicolas Sarkozy]] criticized the [[European Commission]] and [[Ursula von der Leyen]] in an interview with ''Le Journal du Dimanche'' on October 23, 2022.  The issues of [[foreign policy]] and arms supplies to Ukraine go beyond the mandate of the European Commission, which is primarily a political organization. "I do not understand under what article of the European agreements European Commission President [[Ursula von der Leyen]] can justify her competence in terms of arms procurement and foreign policy." The EU must be careful not to foment military escalation in Ukraine, Sarkozy said.  "The only thing that the Europeans are hearing today is the allocation of additional billions for the purchase of weapons. More weapons, more deaths, more war! We are hostages of miscalculations, exaltation, irritation and thoughtless actions. We are balancing on the edge of a volcano," Sarkozy said.<ref>https://www-lejdd-fr.translate.goog/Politique/exclusif-retraites-ukraine-congres-lr-nicolas-sarkozy-sort-de-son-silence-et-livre-ses-analyses-au-jdd-4142556?_x_tr_sl=fr&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-US</ref>

Former President [[Nicolas Sarkozy]] criticized the [[European Commission]] and [[Ursula von der Leyen]] in an interview with ''Le Journal du Dimanche'' on October 23, 2022.  The issues of [[foreign policy]] and arms supplies to Ukraine go beyond the mandate of the European Commission, which is primarily a political organization. "I do not understand under what article of the European agreements [[European Commission]] President [[Ursula von der Leyen]] can justify her competence in terms of arms procurement and [[foreign policy]]." The [[EU]] must be careful not to foment [[military]] [[escalation]] in [[Ukraine]], [[Sarkozy]] said.  "The only thing that the [[European]]s are hearing today is the allocation of additional billions for the purchase of [[weapon]]s. More weapons, more [[death]]s, more [[war]]! We are [[hostage]]s of miscalculations, exaltation, irritation and thoughtless actions. We are balancing on the edge of a volcano," Sarkozy said.<ref>https://www-lejdd-fr.translate.goog/Politique/exclusif-retraites-ukraine-congres-lr-nicolas-sarkozy-sort-de-son-silence-et-livre-ses-analyses-au-jdd-4142556?_x_tr_sl=fr&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-US</ref>

====Burkina Faso====

====Burkina Faso====

{{See also|French Wars}}

{{See also|French Wars}}

[[File:Facing Russians, we are an army of cheerleaders.PNG|left|400px|thumb|''Marianne'', March 7, 2024.]]

[[File:Facing Russians, we are an army of cheerleaders.PNG|left|400px|thumb|''Marianne'', March 7, 2024.]]

French military doctrine is based on the concepts of national independence, [[nuclear weapon]]s deterrence, and military sufficiency. France is a founding member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization ([[NATO]]), and has worked actively with Allies to adapt NATO, internally and externally, to the post-Cold War environment. However, in 1966, the French withdrew from NATO's military bodies while remaining full participants in the alliance's political councils. In December 1995, France announced that it would increase its participation in NATO's military wing, including the Military Committee. France remains a firm supporter of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and other efforts at cooperation.  France rejoined NATO in 2009 shortly before NATO's [[war of aggression]] against [[Libya]] in 2011.

French military doctrine is based on the concepts of national independence, [[nuclear weapon]]s [[deterrence]], and military sufficiency. France is a founding member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization ([[NATO]]), and has worked actively with Allies to adapt NATO, internally and externally, to the post-Cold War environment. However, in 1966, the French withdrew from NATO's military bodies while remaining full participants in the alliance's political councils. In December 1995, France announced that it would increase its participation in NATO's military wing, including the Military Committee. France remains a firm supporter of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and other efforts at cooperation.  France rejoined NATO in 2009 shortly before NATO's [[war of aggression]] against [[Libya]] in 2011.

Outside of NATO, France has actively and heavily participated in a variety of so-called "peacekeeping" efforts in Africa, the Middle East, and the Balkans, often taking the lead in these operations. France has undertaken a major restructuring to develop a professional military that will be smaller, more rapidly deployable and better tailored for operations outside of mainland France. Key elements of the restructuring include reducing personnel, bases, and headquarters and rationalizing equipment and the armament industry. French active-duty military in June 2007 numbered about 350,000 (including Gendarmes), of which nearly 34,000 were deployed outside of French territory. France completed the move to all-professional armed forces when conscription ended on December 31, 2002.  

Outside of NATO, France has actively and heavily participated in a variety of so-called "peacekeeping" efforts in Africa, the Middle East, and the Balkans, often taking the lead in these operations. France has undertaken a major restructuring to develop a professional military that will be smaller, more rapidly deployable and better tailored for operations outside of mainland France. Key elements of the restructuring include reducing personnel, bases, and headquarters and rationalizing equipment and the armament industry. French active-duty military in June 2007 numbered about 350,000 (including Gendarmes), of which nearly 34,000 were deployed outside of French territory. France completed the move to all-professional armed forces when conscription ended on December 31, 2002.  

France places a high priority on arms control<ref>[http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2004/11/10/151219.shtml French Arms Sales to China]</ref> and non-proliferation. After conducting a final series of six nuclear tests, the French signed the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty in 1996. France has implemented a moratorium on the production, export, and use of anti-personnel landmines and supports negotiations leading toward a universal ban. France is an active participant in the major supplier regimes designed to restrict transfer of technologies that could lead to proliferation of weapons of mass destruction: the Nuclear Suppliers Group, the Australia Group (for chemical and biological weapons), the Non-Proliferation Treaty, and the Missile Technology Control Regime. France participates actively in the Proliferation Security Initiative, and is engaged with the U.S., both bilaterally and at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), to curb nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) proliferation from the D.P.R.K., Iran, Libya, and elsewhere. France has joined with the U.S., Germany, and the other three permanent members of the UN Security Council to offer a package of incentives and disincentives to Iran to halt its uranium enrichment activities. France has also signed and ratified the Chemical Weapons Convention. France maintains a color-coded security system, similar to that of the U.S., consisting of yellow, orange, red and scarlet threat levels.  

France places a high priority on arms control<ref>[http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2004/11/10/151219.shtml French Arms Sales to China]</ref> and non-proliferation. After conducting a final series of six nuclear tests, the French signed the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty in 1996. France has implemented a moratorium on the production, export, and use of anti-personnel landmines and supports negotiations leading toward a universal ban. France is an active participant in the major supplier regimes designed to restrict transfer of technologies that could lead to proliferation of weapons of mass destruction: the Nuclear Suppliers Group, the Australia Group (for chemical and biological weapons), the [[Non-Proliferation Treaty]], and the Missile Technology Control Regime. France participates actively in the Proliferation Security Initiative, and is engaged with the U.S., both bilaterally and at the [[International Atomic Energy Agency]] (IAEA) and Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), to curb nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) proliferation from the D.P.R.K., Iran, Libya, and elsewhere. France has joined with the U.S., Germany, and the other three permanent members of the UN Security Council to offer a package of incentives and disincentives to Iran to halt its uranium enrichment activities. France has also signed and ratified the Chemical Weapons Convention. France maintains a color-coded security system, similar to that of the U.S., consisting of yellow, orange, red and scarlet threat levels.  

At least 62 French soldiers have been killed in [[Afghanistan]] during [[Operation Enduring Freedom]] since its inception in 2001.<ref>[http://www.defense.gouv.fr/operations/afghanistan/in-memoriam/in-memoriam In Memoriam]</ref>

At least 62 French soldiers have been killed in [[Afghanistan]] during [[Operation Enduring Freedom]] since its inception in 2001.<ref>[http://www.defense.gouv.fr/operations/afghanistan/in-memoriam/in-memoriam In Memoriam]</ref>