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FP: The conflict in Ukraine pits France and Germany against each other like never before

MOSCOW, November 22 – RIA Novosti. The magazine’s columnist wrote that the conflict in Ukraine has led to deeper strategic divisions between France and Germany than ever before. foreign policy Caroline de Gruyter.

“Paris criticizes Berlin. Why did the German side take independent action after years of ignoring Macron’s numerous European proposals? Why did Scholz go to China alone? Why did the Federal Republic of Germany use American F-35 fighter jets instead of the French Rafale this year? Germany’s uncoordinated unilateral initiatives with France are upsetting the delicate balance between Paris and Berlin,” he said.

According to the journalist, there has been a “division of labor” in Europe for the past few years that suits both countries. While Germany may ignore geopolitics by focusing on the economy, France as a nuclear power with a serious army and a seat on the UN Security Council could devote more energy to foreign policy. But as the columnist points out, over the years these relationships have become more and more “unstable.”

The conflict in Ukraine has “caused friction on both sides”, exacerbating a “fundamental friction” between the countries, he added.

“Germany has two major headaches right now. First, its economic growth model is threatened by both sanctions against Russia and the sharp decline in energy supply. Its central economic presence in Europe, including other EU members for the first time in many years. “We are more dependent on imports than exports,” he said.

The article states that “Germany’s second headache” is the realization that Europe’s security is no longer provided by France, but by NATO.

“Suddenly, Germany realized that Europe urgently needed a security and defense policy in which it could not rely on France. Emmanuel Macron has interesting ideas about Europe’s “strategic autonomy”, but is vague about what it means and who is under his leadership. “Therefore, Scholz’s new priority is to improve Berlin’s relationship with Washington,” said Caroline de Gruyter.

The author also referred article French economist Jacques Attali said there was “a disagreement over long-term strategic interests” between the countries. As a result, according to him, “a war between France and Germany becomes possible again.”

As the French and German media have already noted, relations between France and Germany are at their lowest point. The most controversial issues concern the marginal price of gas, Scholz’s reluctance to support French President Emmanuel Macron’s idea of ​​European sovereignty and common defense, and the French leader’s negotiations behind his German counterpart on construction. A natural gas pipeline between Barcelona and Carcassonne also caused the conflict.

The meeting between the leaders of France and Germany and the French and German governments, previously scheduled for October 26 at Fontainebleau, was postponed to January. According to French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, the reason for the postponement was the busy schedule of the participants. However, German government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said that participants “need more time”, as some issues in the energy and defense field have yet to be agreed upon.

Source: Ria

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