How angry were British leaders when France prevented troops from overthrowing Saddam Hussein in Iraq?

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair

Declassified British government documents released on December 31 reveal former British Prime Minister Tony Blair's frustration when former French President Jacques Chirac blocked military action in Iraq.

On March 20, 2003, Britain joined the US-led coalition to send troops to Iraq, despite about 1 million people marching in London to protest military intervention in the Middle Eastern country.

Previously, Mr. Chirac announced that he would veto any UN Security Council resolution on military action in Iraq.

On March 17, 2003, the British cabinet held an emergency meeting and British ministers said that "France's attitude has weakened the UN mechanism to enforce the will of the international community", according to the meeting minutes that have just been made public.

The minutes are part of documents released by the National Archives. According to them, Mr Blair said that "we did our best", but France "was not prepared to accept that if (former) Iraqi President Saddam Hussein did not comply with the UN, military action would follow".

Britain remained determined to join the US-led military action to overthrow Saddam Hussein. Mr Blair then pressed the allegation that the Iraqi dictator was stockpiling weapons of mass destruction, a claim also made by the administration of former US President George W. Bush, although it was later proven to be false.

According to the files, then-British foreign secretary Jack Straw told the cabinet that "in effect, a member of the UN Security Council sabotaged the whole process", and accused Mr Chirac of deciding to "open a strategic divide between France and Britain".

The final part of the minutes reads: "The Prime Minister said that the diplomatic process was over, that Saddam Hussein would be given an ultimatum to leave Iraq and that the House would be asked to approve the use of military action against Iraq to enforce compliance, if necessary."

20 years after invading Iraq, the US struggles with the consequences

The subsequent British military action severely damaged Mr Blair's popularity, culminating in an independent inquiry into Britain's role in Iraq. The Chilcot inquiry concluded in 2016 that Mr Blair had deliberately exaggerated the threat posed by the then Iraqi government.

Mr Blair later expressed "sadness, regret and apology" for mistakes made in planning for the conflict.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/lanh-dao-anh-gian-du-ra-sao-khi-phap-ngan-dua-quan-lat-do-saddam-hussein-o-iraq-185241231110740072.htm