France: Energy

Domestic

France conducted a significant maritime enforcement operation, intercepting and seizing an oil tanker in the Mediterranean suspected of being part of Russia's 'shadow fleet' to circumvent sanctions. Macron stated the action was taken with allies, signaling a direct and firm stance against sanction violations. Domestically, the French energy company TotalEnergies advanced major international projects, including a $20 billion energy deal with Libya and the restart of a long-paused liquefied natural gas project in Mozambique. The company also secured a separate 25-year agreement with Libya for gas development, while its CEO indicated a cautious approach toward reinvesting in Venezuela.

International

The United States formally withdrew from the Paris Agreement on climate change for a second time, a move criticized by United Nations officials Haq and Stiell, who stated it would harm the U.S. and that global climate action would continue. This development reportedly prompted discussions within Israel about its own potential withdrawal from the treaty, citing U.S. pressure. Concurrently, Libya solidified its energy partnerships, finalizing the aforementioned multibillion-dollar deal with TotalEnergies and ConocoPhillips.