News Analysis: Solution to terrorist threats in Europe cannot be summarized as military response alone

The solution to the terrorist threats in Europe, particularly in France, cannot be summarized as military response alone, French expert on Arab world in University of Tours Frederic Pichon recently told Xinhua.

According to him, the solution is as much diplomatic as political.

"For as long as France will not have redefined its alliances and relations with certain Gulf countries, it is an illusion to think we can overcome terrorism," Pichon told Xinhua in an interview.

Pichon also thinks the French strikes against Daech after the Nov. 13 attacks are similar to those of the United States following the Sept. 11 attack.

"We didn't understand that the problem was not only security, but a diplomatic and political problem in the region of the Gulf," Pichon said.

"France is in a military posture and do not pose the real question: how did we get there, how the management of the West in Syria has in fact encouraged terrorism through countries that are our allies, such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey," the French researcher said.

Pascal Boniface, director of the French Institute for International and Strategic Affairs (IRIS), echoed Pichom's views.

"France is more exposed to terrorist attacks, because it has a very active foreign policy and is too engaged in the Middle East," Boniface told Xinhua.

However, he doesn't support that France should change its foreign policy.

"France should not change its foreign policy, or it would give reasons to terrorism," he explained, calling on France to reinforce its security measures.

For Frederic Pichon, an expert on the Middle East, the solution to terrorist threats should be through a re-balance of France's policies in the Middle East.

"For as long as we will not have redefined our allies and relations with these countries (Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey), it is an illusion to think that we can overcome terrorism," Pichon said.

"We must absolutely re-balance our policy in the Middle East. It is not to break up with the powers of the Gulf, but to be able to find an alternative, especially with Iran in the region or with other powers who would allow us to give pressure to these countries of the Gulf," Pichon precised.

On the other hand, Pichon thinks that Europe should "proceed to reaffirmation of its national and European values, this is the best way to counteract it (terrorism)".

"The engagement of European nationals in jihadism is the cause of something that is unique to European societies. They have not reaffirmed their values, on which the jihadism has prospered," Pichon told Xinhua.

For both of the experts, the response against terrorism must be European wide.

"Some of the terrorists who committed terrorist attacks in Paris came from Belgium, so at the European level, all countries should not only apply the same rules but they have to be more alert to this phenomenon," Pichon stressed.

"Member countries (of the EU) should accept to put their differences aside and accelerate diplomatic consultations because the Islamic State is their most urgent threat," Boniface said.

Boniface also noted that a large "political and military coalition" is necessary given that the threat is now worldwide. Endit