President Reaffirms Primacy of National Sovereignty and Rejects Interference
The Tunisian government has decided to take a firm stance on its political and diplomatic choices, free from external pressure.
National Sovereignty at the Heart of the President's Action
Faithful to his convictions since his election as President of the Republic, Kaïs Saïed has always reaffirmed his positions to international partners. National sovereignty remains at the center of his action and is one of the main axes of his policy.
During a meeting with the Tunisian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohamed Ali Nafti, at the Carthage Palace, the President recalled what he considers the cornerstone of the Tunisian state: "We are sovereign and we will never hesitate to express our positions loudly and clearly."
Independence and Self-Determination
For the Head of State, Tunisia remains an independent country, master of its decisions, and no external pressure can influence its political or institutional orientations. This is not a new position, but it is now more firm, direct, and explicit.
The President believes that attempts to interfere in internal affairs are not only a lack of respect for diplomatic customs but also a return to a colonialist logic that Tunisia categorically rejects. The message is clear, and national sovereignty is not up for discussion or negotiation.
A Call to Order
Previously, on November 25, Kaïs Saïed summoned the Ambassador of the European Union to Tunisia, Giuseppe Perrone. According to the official statement from the Presidency, the meeting aimed to express "strong protest" against what is perceived as a violation of the diplomatic framework, referring to certain activities carried out "outside official channels."
In the same vein, and on the instructions of the President of the Republic, the Minister of Foreign Affairs also summoned the Ambassador of the Netherlands, Joséphine Frantzen, to notify her of an official protest regarding acts considered contrary to diplomatic customs.
Through these successive protests, the Presidency intends to remind that dialogue between states must go through institutional frameworks, not unilateral approaches that can be interpreted as bypassing legitimate authorities.
Critique of European Double Standards
In his speech, Kaïs Saïed also attacked the European leitmotif, namely the defense of human rights. A theme often mobilized by European institutions to evaluate, criticize, or "accompany" the political evolution of partner countries.
For the Head of State, this rhetoric is contradictory, translating into a double language that mixes moral exhortations and selective practices according to the EU's strategic interests.
Europeans adopt a "lecturer" attitude, placing themselves as arbiters of democracy and human rights, even when many examples show that the principles displayed give way to geopolitical or economic realities.
Tunisia no longer considers itself a simple recipient of European recommendations but as a sovereign actor capable of defending its own vision of law and democracy. "Europeans have a lot to learn from Tunisia in terms of rights and freedoms," emphasizes President Kaïs Saïed.
Between Historical Continuity and New Diplomatic Doctrine
Sovereignty, a concept once mobilized in a symbolic or ceremonial framework, is now at the center of Tunisia's diplomatic doctrine. The Head of State establishes a direct link between the defense of sovereignty, historical resistance to colonialism, and the need to preserve political unity in the face of "foreign agendas."
By recalling that Tunisia "is neither a farm nor an orchard" and that "those who plot are mistaken about the address," Kaïs Saïed positions himself as the guarantor of the historical continuity of a country that has always fought for its autonomy and independence.
His speech marks a break with a long tradition of asymmetric cooperation where the European Union played the role of "prescribing partner." Tunisia prioritizes a relationship based on strict respect for sovereign prerogatives, equality between partners, and consideration of national realities.
Through his statements, Kaïs Saïed clearly sets the milestones for a reinforced sovereignty doctrine, where Tunisia claims its right to decide alone on its political and institutional orientations. He seeks to reaffirm Tunisia's place as an autonomous actor, refusing any tutelage or external pressure.
This political line opens a new chapter in relations between Tunis and Brussels. A chapter where Tunisian diplomacy intends to impose its own terms, demanding from European partners total respect for diplomatic rules, national sovereignty, and balance between states.
