![]() ![]() While Macron’s endeavor was understandable due to the Trump administration’s blatant disinterest in European security matters, and still is in the light of US pivot to Asia, France’s efforts have been met by criticism from other EU member states such as Poland and the Baltic states. This in turn entails a certain independence from the US and the US-dominated NATO. In sum, De Gaulle’s objective of a strategic independence for France has been transplanted by Macron at the European level. This declaration of intents, on a more practical level, concretely implies reinforcing the EU international architecture by building a common defense policy and industry that would constitute the initial step towards a European army. Thus Paris has had to digest a number of hard-to-swallow failures of which France’s withdrawal from Mali is only the latest to date.Īt the European level, Macron has staunchly advocated for a new form of European sovereignty on the ground, stating that “ only Europe can grant a real sovereignty, that is our capacity to exist in today’s world to defend our values and interests”. Not only has he had to confront disruptive international actors such as Russia or China, but he has also had to deal with worsening relations with old allies such as the US and the UK. While he has portrayed himself as a proactive, iconoclast diplomat in an attempt to reinvigorate France’s pivotal role in world affairs, during his five-years Macron has had to face an increasingly hostile international environment. Since his election in 2017, Emmanuel Macron has adopted an ambitious foreign policy agenda both at the global and European level. ![]() Analyzing Macron’s discourse during his latest visit to Moscow can therefore yield some interesting insights on how he intends to deal with Europe’s most reckless neighbor, Russia. This not only shows France’s foreign policy activism but also hints at Paris’s pivotal role in finding a negotiated solution to the current war. Among western leaders, Macron has been one of the few to keep diplomatic channels open with Russia, even after the invasion of Ukraine. Since December 2021, French President Emmanuel Macron and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin have spoken fourteen times, including during the former’s visit to Moscow. ![]()
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