Multipolarity is usually understood in Paris not as the existence of several roughly equal centers of power but as a joint solution to global problems under the unconditional priority of Western interests
Late in August this year, President Emmanuel Macron delivered his annual
address
to French ambassadors, thus traditionally opening a new political season for the Fifth Republic’s diplomacy. In terms of content, it generally reaffirmed commitment to the same course that the host of Elysée ...
... component, considering that the submarine one is far too sensitive. Besides, in light of the departure of the United Kingdom, the European Union no longer has a fleet that could help France out in the Atlantic. A strengthened cooperation in the air component,... ... France’s strategic aviation, of course, on jet fighters, but it is what it is.
Andrey Kortunov:
Four Pieces of Advice to Emmanuel Macron about the INF Treaty
It may be tempting to disperse to multiple airfields across Europe during a heightened threat,...
Macron does not want to lose his shot at the now-vacant position of foreign policy leader of Europe, including regarding Russian, which is very important for the European Union
Emmanuel Macron’s recent response to Russia’s proposed moratorium on deploying short- and intermediary-range missiles in Europe has caused an uproar. European media was quick to conclude that the French leader effectively supported his Russian counterpart’s ...
Putin and Macron need each other, probably more so than they did two years ago
On August 19, President of France Emmanuel Macron hosted President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin at Fort de Brégançon in the commune of Bormes-les-Mimosas ... ... which has been made worse by the recent decision of President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to suspend the agreement with the European Union on migrants. The future of relations with Iran following the sharp aggravation of U.S.–Iran relations and the ...
... two presidents decide to meet on August 19 in France? Can we use the term "reset" about the French-Russian relations?
“Reset” is probably too strong a word to be used here. Still, France is a member of both the Atlantic alliance and the European Union and it is not going to question the integrity of both institutions by launching its separate ‘reset’ with Russia. However, both presidents hope to benefit from the meeting. For Emmanuel Macron this is another opportunity to claim the French leadership in making the EU foreign policy, especially on the eve of the forthcoming G7 summit and the Normandy Group summit-level meeting; France will host both gatherings this time. For ...
... economic benefits from cooperation with China and the need to protect their own business, because this problem is no less relevant for Moscow. China is gradually becoming a common topic for France–Russia and EU–Russia relations.
***
In January 2018, Emmanuel Macron
promised
to arrange official visits to China annually until the end of his tenure. Whether he will keep this promise in 2019 remains unclear, but the next phase in the dialogue involving France, the European Union and China is scheduled for April 9, when the EU–China summit will be held. Xi Jinping’s March visit to France clearly demonstrated that Paris definitely wants to be an important partner of Beijing, both bilaterally and at the regional ...
... Vienna, in 2017, Europe was able to turn back the tide against the motely, but powerful coalition of nationalists, separatists, populists and radical left- and right-wingers. Contrary to the prophesies of pessimists and the hopes of detractors, the European Union held its ground.
If King John III Sobieski can rightfully be considered the hero of 1683, then the hero of 2017 was President of France Emmanuel Macron. The unexpected and precipitous political take-off of the former Minister of the Economy, Industry and Digital Affairs, his ability to break down traditional political barriers and his talent for effectively using populist rhetoric against ...
... In October 2018, Matteo Salvini and the leader of France’s National Rally Marine Le Pen announced they were pooling their efforts at the European elections. Le Pen
said
that Matteo Salvini and she are not “fighting against Europe but against the European Union that has become a totalitarian system.” This is certainly one of the chief irritating factors in the relations between Rome and Paris. While Emmanuel Macron proposes an “Initiative for Europe” and urges a new stage in EU integration, the Italian government, in essence, openly supports his chief opponent and rival. It is obvious that under such circumstances, it is simply impossible to ...
... growing number of countries adopting the single currency.” In other words, the stance of the European Commission is a polite rejection of Macron’s initiative.
***
There is neither consensus, nor consistency in the range of approaches to reforming the European Union. At the June 2018 EU Summit, the focus will be on Jean-Claude Juncker’s concept of European “super-state” and Emmanuel Macron’s concept of a “multi-speed Europe.” The problem is that it is probably the first in recent European history that several concepts have failed to congeal into a single compromise option, and attempts to make do with partial solutions ...
... consensus within the German political establishment that the West should continue to pressure Russia, and pro-EU, pro-Atlanticist Emmanuel Macron’s victory in France have minimized the chances that either the United States or Europe might ease its attitudes ... ... EU-imposed sanctions and restoring a modicum of economic relations with Western Europe.
Russia also hoped that developments in the European Union, including Brexit and elections in France, would lead to a less Atlanticist, less Russoskeptic EU. These hopes ...
