France's Foreign and Security Policy under President Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron has announced his goal of revitalising Franco-German relations and founding a "new partnership" between Paris and Berlin. However, in foreign and security policy, and in certain areas of his Europe policy, this aspiration has rarely been fulfilled.

The main reasons are structural changes in international relations, which the French and German sides have reacted to differently. Paris is looking for new ways of preserving its autonomy in defence policy and of filling the strategic vacuum that has been created by the waning US interest in Europe and its periphery. Berlin emphasises the development of NATO and the EU as fundamental organisations for German foreign policy.

The paper explores six case studies in which Germany was an­noyed by its partner's policy under President Macron: France's attitude in Libya; France's reshaped policy on Russia; its confrontational relations with Turkey; its criticism of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO); its questioning of Franco-German proposals for developing the European Union's (EU) Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP); and its overt dis­paragement of Germany's policy within the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU).

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Happy Day of Unity 💛💙!

We are strong when we are united, we are strong when we are together.#StandWithUkraine #StrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/vOB4XVdMgC

— MFA of Ukraine 🇺🇦 (@MFA_Ukraine) February 16, 2022

Ukraine FM Kuleba asks Russia to defuse border tensions | WION Interview |

Secretary Antony J. Blinken and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba at a Joint Press Availability | Jan. 19, 2122 |

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A bit of long Covid? Troubling ...

americans of all political stripes should be rooting hard for biden to succeed.

if you're hoping biden fails in the most important political crisis since soviet collapse...you aren't a patriot.

— ian bremmer (@ianbremmer) February 15, 2022

Ian Bremmer?

Trump - I'm Not A Crook

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During Yeltsin Era, UK and US Stripped Assets Off Russia | July 15, 2017 |

Exiled Russian billionaires profited from the Yeltsin era and are living the "Western Dream" in luxury in London and New York.

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New on MoA:
Happy 'Russian Invasion' Day
[_link] pic.twitter.com/JX3RC7r4zY

— Moon of Alabama (@MoonofA) February 16, 2022

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Knows how to put countries people at ease ...

Russia's envoy to the European Union Vladimir Chizhov said there will be no escalation of military action in Ukraine. [_link]

— DW News (@dwnews) February 16, 2022

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Hardliners @NATO and US Congress ... we don't compromise on expansion 🤡

Each country has the right to choose for itself whether it joins any treaty or alliance #NATO | #DefMin pic.twitter.com/kt9FmT9Fxi

— NATO (@NATO) February 16, 2022

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NATO considering new battlegroups in eastern Europe as `signal' of uncompromising tough stance

Response to Russia was a non-starter ... and Stoltenberg knows it ... bullshitter in press conference.

"#NATO remains prepared for dialogue," SG @jensstoltenberg said on day 1 of #DefMin. "NATO has sent concrete written proposals to #Russia, on transparency, risk reduction and arms control. We have yet to receive a response."

Read more: [_link] pic.twitter.com/iRx9o8ueDz

— Oana Lungescu (@NATOpress) February 16, 2022

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War over Ukraine appears called off for now.
Scholz and Putin in Moscow just agreed to continue multi-level talks.
Though Putin appears weary of West ducking Russian concerns. Says "will not allow" talking process "to be dragged out."
Some breathing space for more diplomacy. pic.twitter.com/MJeO7o0AaZ

— Michaela Kuefner (@MKuefner) February 15, 2022

`Lasting security' in Europe can only be achieved with Russian help, Scholz says | France24 |

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Spoke to @DeutscheWelle on the potential impact of war in #Ukraine on the Middle East. Quotes and insights from @Cinzia_Bianco as well that are worth taking note of.#SaudiArabia #Qatar #Syria #Libya [_link]

— Sami Hamdi سامي الهاشمي الحامدي (@SALHACHIMI) February 16, 2022

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Keynote speech
by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg

And we should never accept that when independent sovereign nations make independent and sovereign decisions that that's a provocation against anyone else. If we accept that, we actually accept the old idea of spheres of influence, that big countries have the right to decide what other neighbours, smaller nations, can do. And I say that also very much as a Norwegian, because if anyone back in 1949 have asked Joseph Stalin whether he liked or disliked that Norway joined NATO, of course he would have said, `I disliked it.' Actually he didn't. Only this, as he actually . . . the Soviet Union was of the clear opinion that they didn't like a neighbour, as Norway, to join the Alliance. But it is a fundamental right of every nation to decide its own path and NATO enlargement has been a great demonstration of that sovereign right to decide your own path.

Therefore NATO respect the right of every sovereign nation to decide their own destiny without force and without interference, whether they decide to join NATO, or they decide to not join NATO. We believe in a world without spheres of influence. Coming from a small country like Norway, as I just said, this is a fundamental and important principle. In 1989, that was the year when Europe was utterly transformed. It was the most striking change in Euro-Atlantic . . . in the Euro-Atlantic area in our generation: with Communism losing its grip and the ideals of democracy and free market economy taking hold; with nuclear disarmament promising to end a costly and dangerous arms race; and cooperation replacing confrontation. Change came through peaceful protests, through popular movements and through the bravery of countless men and women.

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How Ping-Pong Diplomacy Thawed the Cold War

The two superpowers had met on the battlefield during the Korean War, but no official American delegation had set foot in the People's Republic in over 20 years. By 1971, however, both nations were looking to open a dialogue with one another. China's alliance with the Soviet Union had soured and produced a series of bloody border clashes, and Chairman Mao believed ties with the Americans might serve as a deterrent against the Russians. U.S. President Richard Nixon, meanwhile, had made opening China a top priority of his administration. In 1967, he had written, "We simply cannot afford to leave China forever outside the family of nations."

To get to know the Soviet Union ... Richard Nixon travels through the country

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Latin America: The United States sphere of influence

Ronald Reagan Made Central America a Killing Field

A long history of the United States that keeps repeating ... Afghanistan-Iraq-Libya-Syris-Yemen.

Parainstitutional Violence in Latin America

Mercenaries have a long history of abuse, rape, war crimes, humanitarian crisis in war zones: Belgian Congo - Dutch Indonesia - Cuban forces Angola - Cambodia - Blackwater - UAE hired mercenaries - Saudi jihadists - Russian Wagner Groups - and so on.

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As Xi Jinping has centralized power and consolidated control over the Chinese Communist Party, China has emerged as an economic, technological, and military superpower, using political and financial means to exert influence in nations and institutions across the globe. pic.twitter.com/exiITZy2Ls

— CEPA (@cepa) December 7, 2020

So America destroys the European economic trade between the EU-27 and Russia ... to whose benefit and deficit?

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All border guard stations in Luhansk region received portable The Order of Battle of the Ukrainian Armed Forces: A [_link] #Border #Ukraine #NLAW

— Militarnyi (@militarnyi_en) February 15, 2022

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Discussed with Prime Minister of Italy #MarioDraghi the security challenges facing Ukraine and Europe today. Exchanged views on intensifying the work of all negotiation formats and unblocking the peace process. I appreciate 🇮🇹's support for 🇺🇦!

— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 15, 2022

Di Maio a Kiev per una soluzione diplomatica: "Unica via da percorrere è quella che porta alla pace" | RAI News |

Italy ready to help settle Ukraine crisis, says top diplomat | Tass |

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French MSM have been twisting the story of the civilians evacuation as concerning UKRANIAN civilians fleeing from "Russian-ruled" territories.
As to the CJEU, who cares about its decisions? I've heard an interview with an EU MP who was saying that she hoped the penalties will be implemented, because as for now, a year after expensive fines, nothing has moved because the EC blocks it.
The MSM will move on to a new episode ('a war at the doors of Europe') and we'll be talking about Hungary and Poland's infringements in a year from now. Actually the extreme-right must have been co-opted in welcoming Eastern EU migrants instead of the "bad, bad" dark guys.

.@SecDef: In response to Poland's formal request in July of 2021, @SecBlinken and I have relayed our intent to Congress to offer Poland the opportunity to acquire 250 M1A2 Abrams main battle tanks. #WeAreNATO pic.twitter.com/pBjAJ9LYlS

— Department of Defense 🇺🇸 (@DeptofDefense) February 18, 2022

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NEWS: NATO Leaders Look to Defense, Deterrence Against Russia [_link

— Department of Defense 🇺🇸 (@DeptofDefense) February 18, 2022

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Szef @MON_GOV_PL @mblaszczak ostro o spotkaniu Tusk-Kwaśniewski-Komorowski: Panu Bogu dziękuję, że...#wieszwięcej [_link]

— tvp.info 🇵🇱 (@tvp_info) February 17, 2022

The head of the Ministry of National Defense, Mariusz Błaszczak, took part in the meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels.

When asked about information about Russia's violations of the ceasefire in Donbas, Blaszczak said that "they are disturbing, as are the entire Russian attitude". He added that the unfulfilled declarations on de-escalation "this is the Kremlin's policy of breaking contracts."

...
On Thursday, at the "Foksal" Press Center, a meeting on the national security of Poland was held with the participation of the head of the Civic Platform, Donald Tusk, as well as former presidents Aleksander Kwasniewski and Bronisław Komorowski, former heads of the Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and generals.

The talks were moderated by the leader of the Civic Platform. When asked about this event, Błaszczak said:

"God, thank you that they were 'former' presidents and 'former' ministers, because I would like to remind you that 2011 was a bad year for the Polish army. The First Warsaw Mechanized Division was liquidated at that time. Tadeusz Kościuszko, the regiment in Suwałki, the brigade in Lublin and the battalion in Siedlce were liquidated," - said the minister.

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US-#NATO eskalują groźby wojenne wobec #Rosji: Czy jesteś gotowy na III wojnę światową?

Konflikt, do którego #Waszyngton prowokuje #Rosję w sprawie #Ukrainy, grozi światu niezmierną katastrofą.#Polska #Warsaw #Kachinsky #Solidarnocz [_link]

— Andy Niklaus (@ANiklaus4) February 18, 2022

US-NATO escalate war threats against Russia: Are you ready for World War III?

The conflict that Washington is provoking Russia into over Ukraine threatens the world with an immense catastrophe. Driven by an unsolvable internal crisis and predatory geopolitical ambitions, US imperialism is heading ruthlessly towards the Third World War.

The crisis in Ukraine was started by the United States and its NATO allies on the basis of lies. The Biden administration condemns Russia for relocating troops within its own borders. The claim of Russia's impending invasion of Ukraine is repeated endlessly by the White House and unchallenged by the media.

This is hysterical war propaganda. Russia has never threatened to invade Ukraine. Moscow, however, says it cannot tolerate Ukraine becoming part of NATO.

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Ucraina, Draghi: "Ue discute sanzioni, su energia Italia più esposta" #ue #italia #russia #mariodraghi #ucraina [_link] pic.twitter.com/uHuekJ6BRC

— Tgcom24 (@MediasetTgcom24) February 18, 2022

Any EU sanctions on Russia should not hit energy: Italian PM Draghi

Any eventual sanctions imposed on Russia by the European Union should not include energy imports, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi has said.

Draghi told reporters that the EU was studying various sanctions options if Russia pushes forward with a feared invasion of Ukraine.

Although Draghi said it was important to avoid sanctions on the energy sector, he added that the government was looking into other possible gas supplies should imports from Russia be hit due to any conflict.

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Failing into line ... a nasty man going for own glory, lack of courage and morals.

Former NATO Leaders to Trump: Don't Make Bad Deals with Putin | Atlantic Council - Nov. 16, 2016 |

US President-elect Donald Trump must not strike any deals with Russian President Vladimir Putin that turn Ukraine into a "bargaining chip," and must send a clear signal of commitment to the security of the United States' NATO allies.

Describing Putin as "a zero-sum player" and Trump as a would-be "transactional president," he said a deal between the two could very well come at the cost of the security of Ukraine and the Baltic States. "That is why NATO and, by the way, also the European Union, should take a very clear and strong position in this regard: that a transactional president does not get into this sort of agreement with a zero-sum player," De Hoop Scheffer said.

Scheffer and Rasmussen spoke in a conference call hosted by the Atlantic Council on November 15. They were joined on the call by Javier Solana, who served as NATO secretary general from 1995 to 1999. Susan Glasser, editor of Politico, moderated the discussion and Damon Wilson, executive vice president for programs and strategy at the Atlantic Council, introduced the speakers.

In an earlier interview with the New Atlanticist, Wilson described Russia as a wild card. "Key is that any deals made with Russia advance American interests and values, and do not sacrifice our friends, allies, and partners in the process," he said.

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New file discovery from 1991 supports Russian accusation
Unfortunately behind a paywall, but Izvestiya says it's about a meeting between foreign ministers of the United States, Britain, France and Germany on 6 March 1991, where they discuss about not being able to offer NATO membership to Poland because they promised not to expand beyond Elbe.

Probably will be drowned by all the noise from the invasion that's about to happen 13th16th20th of February.

On many issues a progressive blogger ... is American pledge of allegiance so dominant that it blinds the fact that imperialism has isolated many countries and it is forced upon Russia from the NATO bombing of Serbia and false flag operation in Kosovo. The aftermath of 9/11 attacks and the Afghan invasion changed NATO and the role of America in the world.

Putin's war on Ukraine will commence a process of ostracism and punishment which will haunt Russia for years, if not decades. He will try to reassemble the old Soviet Union. In the process he will drive Russia into decades of isolation.

— Tikun Olam (@richards1052) February 19, 2022

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The question no journalist in France/Europe wants to ask: is Zemmour success related to his statements about leaving NATO? (google it: "Zemmour" "OTAN").
One could imagine that in the last two weeks this would have been mentioned, since he is so high in the polls and has managed to still a good number of high personalities from the inner circle of Marine Le Pen.

The 2017 French presidential election - opinion polls

Eric Zemmour, the French TV star who is stealing Marine Le Pen's thunder | Politico - June 4, 2021 |

Zemmour, a journalist-turned-celebrity pundit, has been convicted several times for inciting hate speech and is seen by many as responsible for sexist and racist rhetoric leaking into the mainstream. And yet even his political opponents admit his meteoric rise on French television shows that he is tapping into the declinist zeitgeist in France.

His diatribes are deemed so inflammatory that his daily shows are now pre-recorded and checked before going to air. This week, for instance, Zemmour compared puberty-blocking treatments prescribed for trans children to Nazi medical experiments.

Allegations of sexual misconduct against him have further heightened an already polarized debate about his influence.

The threat of a Zemmour presidential bid is taken so seriously that Le Pen has called on her own father, Jean-Marie, whom she excluded from the party, for help in fighting him.

French opposition reopens NATO exit debate after AUKUS submarine row | EurActiv - Sept. 27, 2021 |

French presidential election: Le Pen, Pécresse suffer defection to rivals Zemmour and Macron | France24 |

Related reading ...

Présidentielle 2022 : comment les candidats se positionnent sur la crise Ukrainienne

Latest ...

Zemmour rattrape Le Pen et Pécresse, Mélenchon en dynamique... le bilan hebdo de notre sondage Présidentielle 2022

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Reflecting on their bad karma, the EUrocrats in their wisdom decided not to repeat the same mistake as in Syria and this time to arm to the teeth the "endangered opposition" represented by the Ukrainian extreme-right.
(lifted from MoA's comments quoting, of all sources, UK's Sun: "Ukraine's special operations force has unveiled a fleet of indigenous "Punisher" stealth attack drones. The catapult-launched electric vehicle carries three powerful munitions capable of damaging military vehicles within a radius of 50 meters (164 feet). At 2.28 meters (7.5 feet) wide, the unmanned aerial vehicle can fly up to 30 miles (48.2 kilometers) at a maximum altitude of 396 meters (1,300 feet) controlled by a ground pilot with a laptop computer, The Sun reported.The aircraft has a maximum speed of 125 miles (201 kilometers) per hour and releases its explosive immediately after it locks on target. The British daily added that the munition can be preset to either burst into shrapnel or a ball of fire.
The Punisher flies alongside a smaller reconnaissance drone, the Spectre, which helps it identify targets.
"This weapon's power is its stealth capability," Engineer Eugene Bulatsev told The Sun.
According to the manufacturer, the drone has been deployed against the country's pro-Russian rebels since 2016, executing "hundreds" of successful missions.
"It has been causing havoc behind pro-Russian lines on Donbas for years because the enemy has no idea what has hit them.
"It's relatively small and light enough to be undetectable to radar and you can't see or hear it once it's airborne which makes it a nightmare on the battlefield.
"What's more, it can drop three bombs at a time or hit three separate targets then return to base to be reloaded and sent back into battle within minutes."

Finland's President to @DanaBashCNN: "We are in a colder situation than we were in the original Cold War because then we had at least some agreements between the US and Soviet Union limiting arms, etc. Now we have no agreements so this makes the situation much more vulnerable."

— Bianna Golodryga (@biannagolodryga) February 20, 2022

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