The French desire for uranium and its effects on French foreign policy in Africa
Pederson, Nicholas R.
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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/102031
Description
Title
The French desire for uranium and its effects on French foreign policy in Africa
Author(s)
Pederson, Nicholas R.
Issue Date
2000-05
Keyword(s)
Nuclear nonproliferation - Territories and possessions
Geographic Coverage
France
Africa
Abstract
France is a country that has an enormous need for uranium to run both its commercial nuclear power plants and provide material for its military nuclear weapons program. France would not purchase the uranium it needs on the global market because Charles de Gaulle and other French leaders wanted France to be independent both militarily and economically. Foreign sources of uranium such as Canada and Australia were either seen as being under the influence of the United States or as an unreliable source. France also had extensive influence in Africa because of colonies it held there. de Gaulle used methods such as creating new ministry offices, proposing military defense and technical agreements, and creating a special monetary zone to retain French authority when these colonies became independent. When uranium was discovered in Niger and Gabon, both former French colonies, France now had a reliable and controllable source of uranium.France intervened militarily in these countries whenever the French leaders felt their supply of uranium was in danger. French policy towards her former African colonies was affected by the French need for uranium.
Publisher
Arms Control & Domestic and International Security (ACDIS)
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