There was no foreign conspiracy behind the uprisings in the Arab world over the past few years, said former French Foreign Affairs Minister Hubert Védrine here on Monday.

Védrine said he could not see any foreign involvement in the revolts in Yemen, Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Syria.

Védrine made the comments during his lecture entitled, “The multipolar world and its impact on Arab and Islamic countries,” held at the auditorium of the King Faisal Foundation on Monday.

The lecture was organized by the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies in cooperation with the French Embassy in Riyadh.

In his introductory remarks, French Ambassador Bertrand Besancenot thanked the King Faisal Foundation for hosting the lecture for the second time in a week. “It highlights our common concern to contribute effectively to the intellectual and strategic dialogue between France and Saudi Arabia,” the envoy said.

Védrine, who founded the Hubert Védrine Conseil, a Paris-based public consulting firm specializing in foreign, economic and geopolitical affairs, said the revolutions in Arab countries were a result of the reaction of the people toward their leaders.

He said the people’s uprising in Libya was legitimate but the late Libyan leader could have tackled the issue more intelligently to avert the fall of his regime.

He pointed out that if military action was proposed at the United Nations, there was a possibility that Russia would use its veto power in favor of the present Syrian regime. He also advised positive negotiations, following an intervention by an intermediary between the United States and Russia, for the safe conduct of the resolution.

Speaking about the region, Védrine underlined the lack of unity among Arab countries, despite linguistic, cultural and religious similarities. He said Saudi Arabia’s position in the G20 should allow it to become the voice of Arab countries in the group of emerging economies. “To achieve this goal, Saudi Arabia should find common ground with other Arab countries in the agenda of the G20.”

He described Iran as an emerging country that was being kept hostage by a terrible and violent regime. Iran’s nuclear program was a threat to the region, he added.

Védrine said the United States would almost certainly retain its leadership position in the world, albeit a relative, contested and challenged leadership, even after China’s economy surpasses it around 2020.

It was likely, however, that China would try to tighten its grip on its neighbors and extend its influence over countries whose economies depend heavily on Chinese imports and investment, particularly those in Africa and Latin America. China will dominate all seas and will remain a challenge to the United States, he said.