There is no foreign policy without leaders’ credibility. Emmanuel Macron’s double term has led to the marginalization of our country on the international stage.
Emmanuel Macron’s presidencies have witnessed historical events unfolding and the world shifting with multiple intertwined crises: the Covid pandemic, wars in Ukraine, Gaza, and Iran, the oil shock, all against the backdrop of climate change and digital revolution. Four cycles have ended: Western dominance over world affairs since the 16th century; the US’s assurance over capitalism and democracy since 1917; the post-1945 world order; and globalization, which began in 1979 and ended definitively in 2022 with the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. A new age of empires is emerging, accompanied by a very unstable and heterogeneous geopolitical system where violence is freed from institutions and rules, making peace impossible and war omnipresent.
Democracies, facing a significant setback, are dealing with an existential threat due to America’s shift toward illiberalism and alignment with authoritarian empires.
Europe finds itself squeezed between the vital threat from Russia, the changing dynamics within the United States, China’s economic influence, Turkey’s pressure to re-establish the Ottoman Empire using Islam, and the South’s resentment due to colonial history.
Europe is vulnerable and disarmed, having fallen for the illusions of the “end of history” and reducing defense efforts to less than 1.5% of GDP since the end of the 20th century. The foundations of European integration, crucial for rebuilding post-1945, are now outdated, jeopardizing peace, geopolitical influence, and military strength.
France, along with other European countries, has faced challenges in the 21st century despite having significant strengths to overcome them. However, Emmanuel Macron’s leadership has eroded France’s influence both in Europe and globally. His self-centered approach and inconsistent decisions have exposed the gap between France’s aspirations for global power and its shrinking capabilities.
Several key areas have suffered under Macron’s leadership, including the European Union’s attempt to refocus post-Covid recovery and the Ukraine conflict. Macron’s decisions have led to France’s marginalization, institutional paralysis, and economic collapse, turning the country into the sick man of Europe.
The current geopolitical landscape showcases the need for a credible foreign policy backed by both hard and soft power. Macron’s failures have highlighted structural issues like demographic decline, economic stagnation, social challenges, financial burden, and political paralysis, demanding a comprehensive approach to rebuild France’s power and influence.
The upcoming debates must prioritize restoring France’s power before projecting its influence to promote the European Union as a sovereign actor in the 21st century. The focus should be on rebuilding France’s spirit, economic recovery, fiscal health, redefining state functions, ensuring civil peace, and radically redefining diplomacy and defense strategies.
