FEATURED COMMENTARY & ANALYSIS

How France, Germany, and the UK can build a European pillar of NATO

Report Nov 10, 2025

France’s policy on China: Strategic autonomy and less naïveté

By Zoltán Fehér

Over the last decade, France’s long-standing engagement with China has transformed into a more nuanced and cautious dynamic, reflecting a growing emphasis on balancing. This shift is guided by France’s pursuit of strategic autonomy, its effort to “de-risk” economic and security ties, and the broader geopolitical realities unfolding in the Indo-Pacific.
China Economy & Business
How France, Germany, and the UK can build a European pillar of NATO

New Atlanticist Sep 8, 2025

Experts react: The French government has collapsed again. What does this mean for France, the EU, and Macron?

By Atlantic Council experts

On Monday, Prime Minister François Bayrou lost a confidence vote in the National Assembly, removing him from office and leaving France in a state of political uncertainty.
France NATO
How France, Germany, and the UK can build a European pillar of NATO

New Atlanticist Jul 16, 2025

Reading between the lines of the new France-UK nuclear entente

By Léonie Allard

French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Kier Starmer released a “truly historic” declaration on nuclear planning on July 10.
France Nuclear Deterrence

Program

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Content

Article

Nov 23, 2020

How France, Germany, and the UK can build a European pillar of NATO

By Anna Wieslander

Expanding and developing the role of the E3 in defense, with a focus to create a stronger European pillar in NATO, could serve as a fruitful test ground to shape more decisive and agile security cooperation for the future.

Defense Industry
Defense Policy

Report

Nov 11, 2020

Sovereign solidarity: France, the US, and alliances in a post-COVID world

By Jeffrey Lightfoot, Olivier-Rémy Bel

What allies does the United States need to compete in the emerging post-COVID geostrategic environment? And how can the United States best engage its allies to advance its national interests in this new environment? These are questions of major importance to a new US administration within a competitive geopolitical environment.

Coronavirus
Europe & Eurasia

In the News

Oct 20, 2020

Duclos in Institut Montaigne: Trump or Biden: Rebuilding the Transatlantic Relationship
Democratic Transitions
Elections

MENASource

Sep 17, 2020

Macron’s plan for Lebanon needs independent figures

By Paul Gadalla

Emmanuel Macron must use his leverage to create space for new voices that are not inclined to perpetuate the same corrupt system if he is serious about facilitating a new political contract for Lebanon.

France
Lebanon

Feature

Sep 14, 2020

Europe after COVID

By Clément Beaune

A few weeks after the groundbreaking budget agreement adopted by the European Council on July 21, it would be tempting to say that COVID-19 changed everything in the European Union, in line with the oft-repeated principle: “It takes a crisis for Europe to act.” Like all clichés, there is some truth in this statement.

Coronavirus
European Union

New Atlanticist

Aug 13, 2020

Macron has the power to change the EU’s Hezbollah policy

By Jeremy Stern

Macron’s belief in France’s special responsibility to Lebanon is evident. If he wants to help the people suffering under Hezbollah there, Macron should follow the German example, and lead a ban of Hezbollah at home.

Conflict
France

New Atlanticist

Jul 21, 2020

France must recognize its role in Libya’s plight

By Karim Mezran and Federica Saini Fasanotti

While Paris’s official policy in Libya has supported the United Nations-led negotiations over Libya and the Government of National Accord (GNA) that resulted from them, France’s real policy on the ground has been one of total and full support for Haftar’s forces.

Conflict
France

UkraineAlert

Jun 2, 2020

Trump’s G7 invite for Putin will encourage more war

By Yuliia Popyk

US President Donald Trump wants to invite Vladimir Putin to the next G7 summit, despite the Russian leader's refusal to end the aggression against Ukraine that led to his initial suspension from G8 in 2014.

Conflict
France

New Atlanticist

May 18, 2020

Partial Eurobond not the answer to Europe’s coronavirus economic downturn

By Bart Oosterveld

Some have argued that a partial Eurobond instrument, backed for example by France, Italy, and Spain, could be set up as a risk sharing and/or solidarity tool to partially finance the recovery out of the economic downturn caused by the pandemic. This is a truly awful idea as such an instrument would deliver none of the potential benefits of a Eurobond, while simultaneously creating asymmetric risks on capital markets.

Coronavirus
European Union

In the News

Apr 14, 2020

Dungan appears on Bloomberg to discuss France’s extended lockdown

On April 14, 2020, Nicholas Dungan spoke with Bloomberg’s David Westin on “Bloomberg: Balance of Power” about France’s extended lockdown.

Economy & Business
Europe & Eurasia
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Experts

Fellow

Jérémie Gallon

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Europe Center

Economy & Business English

Fellow

Marie Jourdain

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Europe Center

Africa English

Fellow

Erwan Lagadec

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

English Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

Jeffrey Lightfoot

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

English Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

Leo Michel

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Europe & Eurasia European Union

Staff

Emma Nix

Assistant Director

Europe Center

Central Europe Eastern Europe
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