France’s New Laissez-faire Approach to Germany
Paris has learned to advance its EU agenda with whatever government emerges in Berlin.
Paris has learned to advance its EU agenda with whatever government emerges in Berlin.
French voters often punish their presidents by refusing them reelection. However, Emmanuel Macron’s brand of relatively unideological third way politics seems to resonate with the electorate. His chances of securing a second term look good.
French President Emmanuel Macron wants insurance against Chinese hegemony. Therefore, Paris is seeking cooperation with Delhi and Canberra and pushing Berlin to Europeanize economic relations with Beijing.
The French president is strengthening his military and wants Berlin to do the same. But real “sovereignty” in security is for the future. When it comes to getting stuff done, Emmanuel Macron is betting on the United States rather than Germany.
The French president wants Europeans to discover their collective identity. However, his particular concept of "Europeanness" risks alienating other EU member states and could lead to misunderstandings.
French President Emmanuel Macron has been more clear-sighted on Brexit than most European leaders. But now is the time to back down and compromise.
Emmanuel Macron wants Europe to be a geopolitical actor independent from Washington. But that does not mean that he wishes for the United States to drift further toward isolationism.
In their attempt to defuse the confrontation between Ankara and Athens, tactical differences between Germany and France may actually deliver more than speaking with one voice.
The French are self-involved, or so the cliché goes. But they are no chauvinists—just ask the French president.
The German government is increasingly adopting a French outlook on economics and geopolitics. The stars are aligning for a renaissance of the Franco-German tandem.