Le Drian: "I would like to thank you for having chosen France for your first trip in your new position. This first visit is a fine tradition in Franco-German relations. This relationship is essential, not to say vital, for our two nations".
Le Drian: "The orientations of the German government's coalition contract largely overlap the priorities France will advance on behalf of the Europeans during its presidency of the EU Council".
Baerbock: "Germany has no closer friend than France. We need very strong Franco-German relations. Otherwise, the European Union would be in a weakened position."
πͺπΊπ«π· President Macron just presented France's priorities for its presidency of the Council of the EU (which starts next January). Brace yourself for a long 𧡠on the main takeaways of a long speech π
First, the presidency will happen in a tense strategic environment with rising regional tensions especially in Europe's neighborhood, the persistence of the pandemic, growing global inequalities and climate change.
Against this backdrop, President Macron's ambition is to "move from a Europe of cooperation within its borders to a powerful and fully sovereign Europe that masters its destiny on the global stage".
What should we expect from the Macron-Biden meeting later this week in Rome? In this @TheNatlInterest piece, I try to put into perspective the ongoing diplomatic row between Paris and Washington over #AUKUS. A short 𧡠on the main takeaways π nationalinterest.org/feature/aukus-β¦
If you think that the π«π·πΊπΈ diplomatic tensions over AUKUS are only a bilateral matter over the loss of a submarine contract, then youβre mistaken.
The AUKUS crisis is actually revealing of a larger trend in the transatlantic relationship, with Washington increasingly focusing on its competition with China sometimes at the risk of overlooking Europe's role and interests.
Yesterday, France launched with success a military communication satellite called SYRACUSE IV. This is an important milestone in France's space defense strategy. A short 𧡠to explain why π
Syracuse IV will provide secure communications to French armed forces regardless of the distance. This satellite will be part of a constellation of 3, replacing the existing system (Syracuse III) in place since 2007.
This constellation will have a bandwidth 3 times higher than the previous generation and will connect together more than 400 ground stations.
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 𧡠on the main highlights π
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.
This piece by @AlbertoNardelli tackles an important topic (European technological sovereignty) but is mixing up very different issues in a misleading way. A short π§΅π bloomberg.com/news/articles/β¦
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.
"If the goal was to build a unified and capable coalition of countries to deter aggression from π¨π³ and defend a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific, alienating and excluding π«π· was incredibly short-sighted". π― piece by @Brad_L_Bowman & @MarkCMontgomery defenseone.com/ideas/2021/09/β¦
"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."