PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron has regained his stature as a central figure in international diplomacy. He is striving to mend ties with President Donald Trump, advocating for a peace initiative in Ukraine alongside his British counterpart, and witnessing the fruition of his enduring vision to bolster European defense capabilities.
Six months ago, Macron’s position was precarious following his call for early legislative elections, which resulted in a hung parliament and a domestic crisis. Known for his relentless political drive, Macron shifted his attention to international affairs, delegating domestic matters to the prime minister.
Currently, Macron stands out as a European leader who maintains frequent communication with Trump and is at the forefront of European support for Ukraine. He is positioning himself as the leader of the European Union’s sole nuclear-armed state.
Renowned as a key global figure, Macron, aged 47, is among the select leaders familiar with Trump during his initial term. Despite their disagreements, they maintain a rapport they both describe as “friendship.” Macron was the first European leader to interface with Trump after his re-election, urging him to remain committed to Ukraine amidst negotiations with Russia.
A prominent player in European politics, Macron has capitalized on the shifts in U.S. policies to propagate his long-standing views. Elected in 2017, Macron advocated for a robust, independent Europe. In a notable speech at Sorbonne University that year, he proposed an integrated European defense policy bolstered by cooperative military initiatives.
Macron has critiqued NATO’s “brain death,” insisting that the EU should assert itself as a strategic global influence. On Thursday, EU leaders agreed to fortify defenses, allocating hundreds of billions of euros for security, following Trump’s caution that they might contend with Russian threats unassisted.
In a pivotal declaration last week, Macron proposed extending France’s nuclear deterrent to European allies to safeguard the continent. This nuclear capability traces back to strategies implemented by Gen. Charles de Gaulle, maintaining France’s autonomy from the U.S. and enforcing its global power. The proposal was well-received by Poland and Baltic countries.
Benjamin Haddad, France’s Minister for European Affairs, lauded Macron’s initiatives, stating they aim to ensure Europeans are “players, not spectators” amid global upheavals.
Key leaders appear supportive of Macron’s tactics. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, in office for eight months, is pursing enhanced defense collaboration with Europe as part of mending ties with the EU post-Brexit. Together, Macron and Starmer are spearheading diplomatic efforts to empower Ukraine’s defense, crafting a peace plan centered around Kyiv. This plan considers deploying European troops to Ukraine to enforce a potential peace deal.
Additionally, Germany’s conservative election victor Friedrich Merz emphasized Europe’s reinforcement and moving towards “genuine autonomy” from the U.S. Days after his election triumph, Merz, who advocates for discussions on “nuclear sharing” with France, visited Paris for discussions with Macron. While no public statements were released from their meeting, sources indicated that their visions align. These details were divulged by anonymous officials owing to the meeting’s confidential nature.
Meanwhile, Russia has criticized Macron’s approach, accusing him of “performative militarism” driven by national agendas. The Russian foreign ministry claimed Macron aims to divert French attention from “worsening socio-economic challenges.” Moscow dismissed Macron’s nuclear deterrent proposal as “highly confrontational,” suggesting Paris aspires to be Europe’s nuclear “patron,” despite France’s forces being smaller than those of the U.S. Russian President Vladimir Putin likened Macron to Napoleon, cautioning against imperial ambitions and recalling Napoleon’s failed 1812 Russian invasion. Macron countered by labeling Putin “an imperialist.”
Domestically renewed, Macron was re-elected in 2022 and initially struggled with a complex parliamentary situation, delaying crucial legislative approvals and necessitating a rapid prime ministerial change. However, the French Constitution empowers him significantly in terms of foreign policy, European affairs, and defense. With a mandate until 2027, Macron intends to fulfill his term.
His active global diplomacy has drawn criticisms from political opponents. Sébastien Chenu, vice president of the far-right National Rally party, identified Macron’s unpredictability as a detriment to French diplomacy. Mathilde Panot, leader of the hard-left France Unbowed group in the National Assembly, also expressed concerns, emphasizing the need for parliamentary involvement in critical decisions.
