US, France Agree to Escalate Airstrikes Against ISIS

Hollande Reiterates Call to Unite With Russia

A White House meeting today between President Obama and French President Francois Hollande has ended, as expected with another agreement to escalate the war against ISIS, with both agreeing that more airstrikes are needed, and both “ruling out” ground troops.

Hollande has announced multiple escalations in the week and a half since ISIS attacked Paris, and the White House has repeatedly pledged support for such escalations, insisting the two nations are united against ISIS.

With Hollande planning to visit Russia next, however, and meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the administration is seen trying to please Hollande at all cost, in hopes it will tamp down French calls for unity with Russia in the war, something the US loudly opposes.

“Those who are threatening us are threatening the Russian,” Hollande reiterated at today’s press conference, suggesting that he may not have been totally convinced of President Obama’s call to keep Europe united in hostility toward Russia.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.