The Egypt in France's foreign policy in the second half of the 19th century

Abstract

The aim of the article is to examine the Egyptian question in France's foreign policy in the second half of the 19th century. The research methodology is based on the principles of historicism, comprehensiveness, and objectivity. These principles relied on methods of generalization, the combination of historical and logical analysis, document analysis, as well as problem-chronological, structural-comparative, and system-analytical methods. The scientific novelty lies in demonstrating, through the example of Egypt, the peculiarities of the formation of France's Middle Eastern policy in the second half of the 19 th century. Conclusions. The events of the second half of the 19 th century show that the Egyptian question occupied a significant place in France's North African policy. However, its restrained position in the 1880s was justified by several crucial factors, namely: the need to ensure the security of its colonial empire, concerns about the spread of pan-Islamic ideas, and the pursuit of its own continental security. It is also worth noting that the resolution of the Egyptian question in France largely depended on the nature of its relations with other European powers—Great Britain, Russia, and Germany. Additionally, a significant factor influencing the level and nature of diplomatic activity in the Nile Valley was the internal situation within France itself, which resulted in an inconsistent political course toward Egypt. Ultimately, both external and internal factors led France to defeat in the struggle for dominance in the Nile Valley.