Bastille Day: France Pledges Stronger Pakistan Ties, Backs Global Peace Efforts
Ambassador Galey Highlights Expanding France-Pakistan Relations at Bastille Day Reception
France reaffirms support for multilateralism, Palestine, Ukraine and climate action
Islamabad – 18 July 2026 (Adnan Hameed) : France reaffirmed its commitment to multilateralism, international law, climate action and stronger bilateral ties with Pakistan as Ambassador Nicolas Galey addressed the French National Day reception held at the Residence of France in Islamabad.
Welcoming the distinguished guests, Ambassador Galey thanked Federal Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb for attending the celebration and extended a special welcome to United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher for joining the event despite his imminent departure.
The Ambassador said the celebration of Bastille Day was being held a few days after the official date, adding humorously that July 14 had not been a particularly auspicious day for France from a football perspective. He also acknowledged Romanian Ambassador Dan Stoenescu for bringing together the musicians who performed the Pakistani national anthem during the ceremony.
Referring to the international situation, Ambassador Galey said the proliferation and intensification of conflicts had become a sad reality of the present era. He noted that hopes for a post-Cold War world free from wars had disappeared and that there had been no “end of history” nor meaningful progress in international law governing relations between states.
Speaking on Ukraine, he said the country had courageously and successfully resisted Russian aggression for more than four years, adding that France, together with the United Kingdom and the 37-country Coalition of the Willing, would continue supporting Ukraine for as long as necessary.
Turning to the Middle East, the Ambassador said the two-state solution allowing Israelis and Palestinians to live side by side in peace and security appeared more distant than ever, while fighting had resumed in the Gulf.
He said that in a world where the use of force had become a troubling “new normal,” France and its European partners had strengthened their defence capabilities while remaining firmly committed to multilateralism and respect for international law, which he described as protecting the weakest and offering the only path to lasting peace.
Ambassador Galey said the recent G7 Summit in Evian offered hope for better coordination of international action. He paid tribute to Pakistan’s efforts to achieve a peaceful solution to the Gulf conflict, stating that Pakistan had worked tirelessly for peace with determination and diplomatic skill. He expressed gratitude for Pakistan’s continued commitment despite setbacks.
Highlighting the importance of multilateral cooperation, he said it remained essential in addressing global challenges, particularly climate change. Although the issue had appeared to fade into the background in recent years, he said reality continued to demonstrate its urgency through Pakistan’s devastating floods and Europe’s unprecedented heatwaves.
The Ambassador reaffirmed France’s commitment to the objectives of the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, saying there was no alternative to collective action in addressing a challenge that affected everyone everywhere.
On bilateral relations, Ambassador Galey said one of the most encouraging developments had been the sharp increase in the number of young Pakistanis studying in France. He noted that the figure had risen from 200 students four years ago to 7,000 this year. He also highlighted France’s continued commitment to eradicating polio in Pakistan, including a recent additional contribution of 50 million euros to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.
Referring to economic cooperation, the Ambassador said France was strengthening its partnership with Pakistan and acknowledged the country’s efforts to revive its economy. He said those efforts had contributed to encouraging more French companies to invest in Pakistan. He described the trade relationship under the GSP+ framework as a key asset, noting that Pakistan remained the world’s largest beneficiary of the scheme. He also expressed hope that the necessary conditions would be met for Pakistan’s successful application to the next GSP+ programme, describing the recent European Union report as an important document in that regard.
Concluding his remarks, Ambassador Galey thanked the people of Pakistan for their kindness, hospitality and friendship. He also acknowledged the sponsors, workers, technicians, Embassy and Residence staff, France’s representatives across Pakistan, and all those who contributed to organising the event. He referred to the gradual opening of the French Club, describing it as a long-term project that he believed would be a great success.
Paying tribute to his wife, Camélia, Ambassador Galey said that although he had the privilege of delivering speeches, many people knew after four and a half years in Islamabad that she was the true French ambassador in Pakistan and had once again been the driving force behind the National Day reception.
He concluded by thanking the guests for attending and ended his address with, “Bohot shukrya, Pakistan Zindabad! Vive la RĂ©publique, vive la France,” while wishing everyone a wonderful evening.
Addressing the gathering as Chief Guest, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening its historic partnership with France while emphasizing the importance of expanding cooperation in trade, investment and economic development.
He said Pakistan would continue playing a constructive role in promoting peace and stability in the Middle East, adding that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir would continue diplomatic efforts aimed at encouraging dialogue and reducing regional tensions. Aurangzeb described France as an important partner of Pakistan and stressed that both countries enjoy broad-based cooperation spanning economic engagement, education, culture and development initiatives.
Federal Minister said that Pakistan remains committed to further enhancing bilateral collaboration for the mutual benefit of both nations. Aurangzeb also highlighted the significance of the European Union’s Generalized System of Preferences Plus (GSP+) framework, noting that the preferential trade arrangement has substantially benefited Pakistan’s export sector, supported industrial expansion and generated employment opportunities.
He said France, as a key member of the European Union, has played an important role in strengthening Pakistan’s economic engagement with Europe. The Bastille Day celebrations reflected the warm and growing relationship between Pakistan and France, with both sides expressing confidence that bilateral cooperation would continue to expand in areas including trade, investment, education, culture, defence and people-to-people exchanges. France’s National Day commemorates the storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789, a defining event of the French Revolution that came to symbolize the republican ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity.
Earlier, the ceremony commenced with the national anthems of France and Pakistan, symbolizing the enduring friendship and strong bilateral relations between the two countries. The venue was beautifully decorated with a Bastille Day billboard and featured a symbolic replica of the Eiffel Tower. The event concluded with a networking session, followed by a traditional French cuisine reception for the guests.
