France reaffirms its commitment to the Rome Statute and ICC cooperation but insists that international law upholds the immunity of leaders from non-signatory states, including Prime Minister Netanyahu. It pledges to consider these immunities if arrests are requested, while emphasizing its historic ties with Israel and continued collaboration for peace and security.
In theory, yes, Putin might be immune from arrest in France as long as he is a sitting head of state, due to customary international law on immunities. However, France’s position reveals a potential double standard. While it highlights the immunities of Israeli officials in its communication regarding the ICC, it has not explicitly clarified whether similar protections would apply to Putin or other officials from non-party states accused of crimes by the ICC. This lack of consistency leaves France’s intentions ambiguous and raises questions about whether political or strategic considerations outweigh its commitment to international justice.