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30 Sep, 17 tweets, 3 min read
This piece by @AlbertoNardelli tackles an important topic (European technological sovereignty) but is mixing up very different issues in a misleading way. A short πŸ§΅πŸ‘‡
bloomberg.com/news/articles/…
First, the article dismisses, without any true counterpoint, the arguments in favor of greater technological independence and resilience.
This not about internal quarrels within the EU institutions, nor about a French lone crusade for a protectionist European economy.
There is actually a consensus among EU countries about the need to foster their digital sovereignty, especially in a post-COVID context.
In June 2020, EU countries for instance *collectively* agreed on "the importance of protecting and reinforcing digital sovereignty in the EU and leadership in strategic international digital value chains as key elements to ensure strategic autonomy".
consilium.europa.eu/media/44389/st…
Europe's desire to reduce its strategic dependencies in key technology areas, supply chains, and critical infrastructures is therefore largely shared among EU member states.
This ambition does not mean building a European economic fortress closed to any form of cooperation with the United States on norms, trade or research and innovation.
The US-EU Trade and Technology Council specifically aims at clarifying how the United States and the EU could work together on these issues while preserving their sovereignty.
The article is also making numerous points on France and NATO which are either off-topic or inaccurate.
The story explains that France's ideas on digital sovereignty worry countries in Eastern Europe because they "see the U.S. as a shield against potential Russian aggression".
I personally don't see any connection between these tech/industrial debates and U.S. security guarantees through NATO and article 5.
The article also claims that French diplomats have been questioning the purpose of NATO, quoting "a person familiar with discussions".
Well, French authorities have repeatedly confirmed their commitment to NATO.
France has actually been at the forefront of NATO's adaptation process (NATO 2030) to make sure that the alliance can meet the challenges of tomorrow.
Finally, the piece asserts that Paris is opposed to any role of NATO on emerging challenges. Actually, France has played a driving role within NATO on space (Center of Excellence) or cyber (Cyber Defense Pledge).
A French general officer is also Supreme Allied Commander for Transformation in Norfolk, Virginia. ACT plays a leading role within the Alliance when it comes to the adaptation of NATO to emerging threats from new domains.
act.nato.int/articles/nato-…
Therefore, I don't see any French hidden agenda to hamper NATO on that front unless France's goal is to shoot itself in the foot. [End]

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More from @morcos_pierre

Pierre Morcos Profile picture
30 Sep
French foreign minister @JY_LeDrian testified yesterday at a French Senate hearing on the implications of #AUKUS. An important discussion with French Senators which will be followed by other hearings. A 🧡 on the main highlights πŸ‘‡
First, minister Le Drian presented in detail the Franco-Australian Future Submarine Program. An intergovernmental agreement was signed in December 2016 and then a Strategic Partnering Agreement in February 2019.
The production was supposed to start in 2023 and the first submarine to be delivered by 2033/2034. Le Drian noted that the program included an industrial partnership with the U.S. with Lockheed Martin in charge of the weapon system.
Read 22 tweets
Pierre Morcos Profile picture
29 Sep
"If the goal was to build a unified and capable coalition of countries to deter aggression from πŸ‡¨πŸ‡³ and defend a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific, alienating and excluding πŸ‡«πŸ‡· was incredibly short-sighted". 🎯 piece by @Brad_L_Bowman & @MarkCMontgomery
defenseone.com/ideas/2021/09/…
"France brings both the desire and ability to help defend these common interests with Washington. From a military perspective, the French are more present and active in the Indo-Pacific than any other European power."
"In formulating AUKUS, the Biden admin should have taken these realities into account and found a way to include France in the agreement. That would have been respectful of the centuries-long U.S.-France alliance and would have advanced shared interests in the Indo-Pacific."
Read 5 tweets
Pierre Morcos Profile picture
22 Sep
[Thread] So, President Biden and President Macron finally talked after days of severe diplomatic tensions between Washington and Paris. A few thoughts on the outcome of this much expected conversation and the next steps.
First, the fact that the White House took the initiative of this call and that President Biden himself recognized that things could have been handled differently is positive in itself and was a first essential step to restore a dialogue with France.
With hindsight, Paris was right to take these strong diplomatic moves, often described as over the top, to make the Biden administration understand the gravity of the crisis (which was not the case at all at first).
Read 14 tweets
Pierre Morcos Profile picture
22 Sep
As outlined in this @POLITICOEurope piece by @RymMomtaz, President Macron expects two things from his call with President Biden.

First, a recognition by Washington that its decision not to consult Paris "raises questions of trust".
politico.eu/article/macron…
Second, the initiation of a "solid process over time and at a high level to create the conditions to restore trust through actions and concrete measures, not just words".
Paris will notably ask the πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ to recognize (1) "the strategic importance of πŸ‡«πŸ‡· and πŸ‡ͺπŸ‡Ί engagement in the Indo-Pacific", (2) "the necessity of reinforcing European sovereignty"; (3) a "common commitment in the fight against terrorism".
Read 4 tweets
Pierre Morcos Profile picture
22 Sep
"Canberra did not understand the impact of its decision [#AUKUS], either in France or on international efforts to form a united front against the rise of China".

Worth-reading op-ed from former Australian Primer Minister Kevin Rudd for @lemondefr.
lemonde.fr/idees/article/…
"The decision of the Scott Morrison government violates the spirit and the letter of the strategic partnership adopted by France and Australia".
"Australia made the mistake of not giving France the opportunity to submit another offer (in part or in full) for these nuclear devices, even though France has a long experience in their manufacture".
Read 4 tweets
Pierre Morcos Profile picture
20 Sep
I don't agree with your reading of Le Drian's interview. Over the past few years, France has been very supportive of Australia's strategic interests in the region, both diplomatically and militarily.
Diplomatically, Paris has stood with Canberra when it was under the pressure of China. See for instance this press conference during which Pres. Macron told PM Morrison that France "firmly rejects any coercive economic measure taken against Australia".
Similarly, there has been a growing πŸ‡«πŸ‡·πŸ‡¦πŸ‡Ί diplomatic convergence to denounce China's aggressive posture, as witnessed in their bilateral declaration of August 30 (with very strong words on Taiwan, the South China Sea, human rights violations).
Read 9 tweets

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