What happened
France has been criticized for its approach to counterterrorism, with some arguing that the country has prioritized domestic peace over global security. This has led to deals with foreign terrorists, including a 1984-1985 nonaggression pact with Abu Nidal's faction. The pact allowed the terrorist group to operate freely in exchange for sparing French soil from attacks.
According to reports, France has continued to tolerate radical networks that export holy war abroad, trading long-term Western stability for temporary safety at home. This approach has been linked to a rise in Islamist ideology among French Muslims, with 38% of respondents in a 2025 survey endorsing Islamist positions.
The situation has led to concerns about the security of the West, with some arguing that France's actions have jeopardized Western security and forced Washington to restrict shared intelligence pipelines. The US is now considering measures to limit intelligence sharing with France, including the implementation of a Dual-Ledger Protocol and a mandatory designation reciprocity trigger.
The French government's approach to counterterrorism has been criticized by some, including former Directorate General for External Security Alain Chouet, who has identified 150 radicalized districts under Islamist control across 859 cities. The situation has also led to a rise in antisemitic violence, with 1,320 acts reported in 2025.
