France Summons US Ambassador Over Comments on Left-Wing Violence Amid Calls for Political Action

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced on February 23, 2026, that he will summon the US ambassador to address recent comments by the US embassy regarding the death of Quentin Deranque, a nationalist student reportedly killed by left-wing militants. The US embassy had suggested on social media that left-wing extremism is a rising threat to public safety in France, a statement Barrot rejected as politically exploitative. He asserted that France will not accept lessons on violence from what he called "reactionary international" forces and emphasized France's capacity to independently analyze its political landscape.

Barrot also renewed calls for the resignation of UN rapporteur Francesca Albanese, criticizing her previous provocative remarks, although he acknowledged she did not explicitly label Israel a common enemy of humanity. Beyond this, Barrot touched on broader international issues, including new US tariffs announced by Donald Trump, urging for cooperation between the EU and US to avoid detrimental trade wars. He also highlighted the importance of Franco-German collaboration on the Future Combat Air System (Scaf) project despite ongoing disagreements.

Meanwhile, Christophe Cariou-Martin, an attorney representing the family of Federico Aramburú—a nationalist figure murdered by ultra-right militants in 2022—called on French politicians to move beyond rhetoric and take tangible actions to prevent political violence. Speaking on BFMTV, Cariou-Martin emphasized the need to reform the organization of public demonstrations to reduce clashes and advocated for stricter control over category D firearms, which are easily accessible and often sold without thorough background checks. He warned that current lax regulations enable individuals with violent criminal records to purchase dangerous weapons, intensifying public concerns about safety.

These developments reveal rising tensions within France regarding political violence from both left-wing and far-right groups and highlight calls from legal representatives and government officials for decisive political and diplomatic responses. As Barrot pursues diplomatic pressure on the US regarding international commentary, domestic voices demand stricter regulation and concrete measures to ensure public safety against extremist violence.