France's Sarkozy expanding diplomatic energy policy

PARIS, Oct. 14 (UPI) -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy is pursuing an expanded foreign policy that includes a significant energy component.

Le Monde reported Tuesday that in addition to the recent $6 billion energy agreements that Sarkozy signed with Kazakhstan during a state visit earlier this month, France is also becoming increasingly active in the Middle East. In May France opened a military base in the United Arab Emirates, where French oil major Total has long been operating, and Sarkozy's administration hopes to construct nuclear power plants there.

Another country in which France is interested in nuclear cooperation is India, whose ties with France began in 1998 under President Jacques Chirac. Sarkozy sees an opportunity to advance French interests there because of the absence of a common European strategy, stymied primarily by the refusal of northern European nations to help India develop its civilian nuclear power program. Seeing an opportunity, Sarkozy has promoted Indian-French cooperation in this field.