On March 7, the International Security Program hosted an off-the-record roundtable discussion with Mr. Jean-Yves Le Drian, senior foreign defense policy adviser to François Hollande, the Socialist candidate in France’s upcoming presidential elections. Atlantic Council Executive Vice President Damon Wilson moderated the conversation.
Mr. Le Drian is visiting Washington to brief US officials and experts on the Hollande campaign’s defense vision prior to a major speech on defense policy to be delivered by Francois Hollande on March 11th. Major topics addressed were the French military mission in Afghanistan; France’s role in NATO; Iran’s nuclear program; and European defense industrial cooperation. This discussion also offered US policymakers and foreign policy experts the opportunity to share their insights, opinions, and perspectives with the Hollande campaign.