FRANCE PERSPECTIVE

French media approach the Asian energy crisis through the lens of European strategic autonomy and lessons learned from Russian gas dependency. Le Monde devotes its international pages to a geopolitical analysis of 'Asia's new vulnerability,' drawing parallels with Europe's 2022 crisis after the invasion of Ukraine. Editorialists emphasize that Europe, burned by the Russian experience, has diversified its supply and is holding up better than expected.

Les Échos focuses on economic repercussions: Brent at $120 per barrel threatens the European recovery, and TotalEnergies finds itself at the center of tensions between contractual obligations in the Middle East and French political pressure. Le Figaro warns of imported inflation and consequences for French purchasing power, a sensitive theme in the post-Yellow Vests context.

France 24, in its role as France's international voice, insists on the need for energy multilateralism and calls for an international conference on maritime route security. French analysts point to Europe's absence as a diplomatic actor in conflict resolution, deploring a 'subalternization' to Washington.

Libération adopts a more engaged tone, criticizing the hypocrisy of Western countries that denounced European dependence on Russian gas while allowing Asia to develop equally dangerous dependence on Gulf oil.