Germany is significantly behind France: what advantage does Macron have?

Europe has been undergoing significant transformation since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In particular, the roles of France and Germany are changing in the context of new threats emerging on the continent.

Political scientist Oleg Sahakyan said 24 Channel that the old approach to the Russian-Ukrainian war has already exhausted itself. This can be felt in sanctions against Russia, in support of Ukraine, and in ensuring a coalition around it. Therefore, now there is an awareness of the need to form new approaches, and this process is underway.

We did not invest in security

France began to play a major role in this, which is in search of its geopolitical niche in Europe and beyond.

French elites are betting on to make Paris the security capital of the European Union. Berlin is an economic and financial capital, because the size of the German economy is many times larger than the French one. However, in terms of security, Germany lags significantly behind France, the political scientist explained.

This is due in part to the fact that Germany is not a nuclear power, and after World War II it was period of demilitarization. In addition, the country has a specific political culture, as well as certain historical complexes. For a considerable time, Germany's financial power was converted at a good rate into political influence.

In addition, Berlin did not invest in security after World War II – it was guaranteed with the help of NATO mechanisms, and in particular the United States.

France is in a much better position

Now we move into the period of pre-war peace, and this involves serious investment in defense. Germany starts here with many weights on its feet, and France is the opposite. Despite its rather modest economic size and financial viability compared to Germany, it has advantages:

• nuclear triad ;
• armed forces, which are quite well equipped;
• military-industrial complex, which provided France with the opportunity to export weapons to other states and the ability to increase arms production.

France now has a much better position, because now it is security that is converted at a high rate into political influence,” Sahakyan emphasized.

Therefore, today, according to the political scientist, Emmanuel Macron is a tool French elite consensus to create France as the security capital of the European Union. For this there are the following conditions:

• geopolitical instability;
• security deficit in Europe.

“Someone must provide it, and France claims to be the one who will be the donor of security for others countries, in particular, it can hold a “nuclear umbrella” over them within the European Union,” emphasized Oleg Sahakyan.

Relations between France and Germany: what is known

• The German party said that between Olaf Scholz, Chancellor of Germany, and Emmanuel Macron, President of France, there were very tense relations.
• The conflict between the leaders of the countries escalated after the summit, which took place in Paris. Then Macron suggested the possibility of introducing NATO troops into Ukraine.
• However, Germany reacted very sharply to this statement. Scholz and the German Defense Minister stated that they would not send Bundeswehr soldiers to Ukraine. “Dangerous for Ukraine. Especially when the Armed Forces of Ukraine needs “pragmatic, emergency help.”
• However, French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejournet noted that there is no dispute between Paris and Berlin. Although he does not deny the existence of obvious differences on the issue of Ukraine between Macron and Scholz.