Macron wants to be emperor of Europe. And when you play the EU game of thrones, you either win or you get a cushy senior appointment in the EU apparatus to assist the next would-be emperor.
France's Macron has ended his pre-war outreach to Russia that Putin's invasion didn't de-rail. He is now taking the lead in Europe on opposing Russia. With an added emphasis on expanding the European Union:
The French president has now picked up the mantle as one of Ukraine’s strongest allies, pledging support “until victory,” seeking to lead on issues such as NATO membership and military support, just as Europeans fret that U.S. support is flagging, with increasing concerns that a potential Donald Trump presidency could deprive Ukraine of its most important ally.
And:
Beyond the war in Ukraine, France is now seeking new allies, wants to lead on enlargement and is war-gaming how an enlarged EU would work. There is frenetic diplomatic activity behind closed doors in Paris and beyond.
Macron is clearly betting on America backing off from supporting Ukraine in favor of over-pivoting to Asia at the expense of Europe:
As a US shift to China is inevitable, France seems to be the only state that is vocalizing the importance of "strategic autonomy."
With his failed outreach to Putin, Macron has an eye on using another crisis to advance EU integration--that is, stripping the prefix from the proto-imperial EU project. With Macron sitting on the throne, of course.
Eastern edge NATO members should not rely on Macron's promises of EU security guarantees.
NOTE: TDR Winter War of 2022 coverage continues here.
