France

The United States’ oldest ally, France is a key strategic partner for Washington, not only in cooperating on transatlantic political and security issues but also in pursuing shared interests across the globe. France is pursuing economic reforms under President Emmanuel Macron, even as it faces social and political disruptions; meanwhile, recent elections point to the rise of the nationalist right wing. France remains a country to watch for the future of the European project as continues to play a leading role in the European Union and beyond.

FEATURED COMMENTARY & ANALYSIS

Braw in Foreign Policy: Army Service Could Be the Answer to Europe’s Integration Problem

Dispatches
Mar 4, 2026

What Macron’s changes to French nuclear policy mean for European security

By
Jonathan Rosenstein and Emily Cheesman

The president’s plan, announced on March 2, expands France’s nuclear arsenal and deepens its cooperation on deterrence with European allies.

France
Nuclear Deterrence

Braw in Foreign Policy: Army Service Could Be the Answer to Europe’s Integration Problem

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

Braw in Foreign Policy: Army Service Could Be the Answer to Europe’s Integration Problem

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

The Europe Center promotes the transatlantic leadership and strategies required to ensure a strong Europe.

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Content

In the News

Apr 18, 2018

Braw in Foreign Policy: Army Service Could Be the Answer to Europe’s Integration Problem

By Elisabeth Braw

Read the full article here

France

New Atlanticist

Apr 16, 2018

Emmanuel Macron: The Trump Whisperer?

By Ashish Kumar Sen

French President Emmanuel Macron said in a television interview on April 15 that he convinced US President Donald J. Trump not to withdraw troops from Syria. “Ten days ago, President Trump was saying ‘the United States should withdraw from Syria.’ We convinced him it was necessary to stay for the long term,” Macron said in […]

European Union France

New Atlanticist

Apr 14, 2018

World Reaction to Strikes on Syria

By Ashish Kumar Sen

The United States, the United Kingdom, and France on April 13 launched strikes on Syria in retaliation for a suspected chemical weapons attack which they blamed on Bashar al-Assad’s regime. While US Defense Secretary James Mattis described the strikes as a “one-time” shot, the Western allies warned more strikes could come in the event of […]

France Germany

New Atlanticist

Apr 12, 2018

Russia, Iran Eyed for Solution to Syria War

By Ashish Kumar Sen

As missile strikes are contemplated, France’s ambassador to the United States says political transition in Damascus must be explored The United States and its European allies should explore with Russia and Iran the possibility of a credible political transition in Syria that can end the seven-year war in that country, France’s ambassador to the United […]

France Russia

Report

Apr 12, 2018

The French-American alliance in an America-first era

By Jeff Lightfoot

The relationship between France and the United States is heading into a new and uncertain era reflecting the leadership of US President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron. With Macron’s April 24-25 state visit to the White House and address to a joint session of Congress as backdrop, The French-American Alliance in an America-First […]

France United States and Canada

In the News

Apr 11, 2018

Dungan Quoted in Bloomberg on Upcoming Macron Visit to US and Syria Strikes

By Nicholas Dungan

Read the full article here.

France

New Atlanticist

Apr 10, 2018

Syria: All Eyes on Trump (and His Tweets)

By Ashish Kumar Sen

US President Donald J. Trump is weighing his options as he decides how to respond to an alleged chemical weapons attack in Syria. He has not ruled out military strikes. In a tweet on April 11, Trump warned Russia that missiles targeting its ally, Syria, “will be coming, nice and new and ‘smart!'”

France Germany

In the News

Apr 9, 2018

Dungan Quoted in The Washington Post on Macron and Syria Chemical Weapons

By Nicholas Dungan

Read the full article here.

France Syria

In the News

Mar 21, 2018

Fried Quoted in The Washington Post on Trump and Macron Relationship

By Daniel Fried

Read the full article here.

France

New Atlanticist

Mar 4, 2018

In Germany, Social Democrats Give Merkel a Fourth Term

By Ashish Kumar Sen

The political uncertainty that had gripped Germany for the past five months was lifted on March 4. The Social Democratic Party (SPD) rank-and-file voted in favor of another grand coalition that would keep Angela Merkel chancellor of Germany for a fourth term. Sixty-six percent of the SPD’s members voted in support of a grand coalition; […]

European Union France
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Experts

Fellow

Didier Acouetey

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Africa Center

Africa Economy & Business

Fellow

Léonie Allard

Visiting Fellow

Europe Center

Africa Chinese

Fellow

Gérard Araud

Distinguished Fellow

Europe Center

English Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

Phyllis Berry

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Europe & Eurasia France

Fellow

Jason Davidson

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Europe & Eurasia European Union

Fellow

William Drozdiak

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Europe Center

Europe & Eurasia France
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