France

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

Can the Franco-British Strategic Defense Relationship Survive?

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

Can the Franco-British Strategic Defense Relationship Survive?

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

Can the Franco-British Strategic Defense Relationship Survive?

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

New Atlanticist

Jul 12, 2012

Can the Franco-British Strategic Defense Relationship Survive?

By Julian Lindley-French

Can the Franco-British strategic defense relationship survive? Yesterday, at the close of a modest lunch in Downing Street, British Prime Minister David Cameron said he had, “found much common ground” with French President Francois Hollande. Following discussions ranging from the Eurozone debt crisis to Syria and Iran Cameron talked of a “strong relationship” and that […]

European Union France

New Atlanticist

May 24, 2012

Anchoring the Alliance: An Atlanticist France

By R. Nicholas Burns Damon Wilson and Jeffrey Lightfoot

For over sixty years, an ambivalent France sat at the center of the Alliance. For NATO to thrive in the decades ahead, it needs an energetic France to sustain its Atlanticist instincts. That is particularly important now that François Hollande has been elected as France’s new President. One of Nicolas Sarkozy’s most notable accomplishments as […]

France NATO

New Atlanticist

May 15, 2012

A Five-Year Plan for Francois Hollande

By Nicholas Dungan

Today François Hollande has taken office as president of the French Republic. He has pressing priorities in his next five weeks but also a chance to make history in the next five years. Tonight he sees the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, in Berlin. Hollande has said that he values the French-German couple but does not […]

European Union France

New Atlanticist

May 9, 2012

The True Meaning of Solidarity, M. Hollande

By Julian Lindley-French

Cher M. Hollande, First, let me congratulate you on your victory. You are about to become president of a great country which is at the heart of European affairs and a major influence on world politics.

European Union France

Event Recap

May 8, 2012

Will the ‘Merkozy’ Economic Strategy Survive the French Elections?

By Jason Harmala

On May 8, 2012, the Atlantic Council hosted an on-the-record members’ conference call with Gideon Rachman, chief foreign affairs columnist at the Financial Times, on the repercussions of the French and Greek elections, as voters in both countries delivered a stinging rebuke to political parties which called for continued austerity and fiscal retrenchment.

Economy & Business France

New Atlanticist

Apr 24, 2012

If Socialist Wins France, European Union Will Be ‘Irrelevant’

By Arnaud de Borchgrave

Award-winning journalist Arnaud de Borchgrave tells Jim Meyers and John Bachman of Newsmax that French President Nicolas Sarkozy will “squeak through” his upcoming election and remain in office, but a Sarkozy loss would lead to a decline of the European Union that could render it “irrelevant.”

Afghanistan European Union
Francois Hollande shakes supporters hands

New Atlanticist

Apr 12, 2012

Presuming President Hollande

By Nicholas Dungan

If François Hollande, the Socialist Party challenger to Nicolas Sarkozy, is elected president of France on May 6, he will face an immediate sizing-up of his leadership at the G8 and NATO summits on the morrow of his taking office on May 17.  He should be expected to arrive at those summit meetings as a […]

France

Event Recap

Apr 3, 2012

Luncheon Colloquium on Africa Strategy with Lieutenant-General Jean-Paul Perruche

By Adrienne Chuck

On April 3, the Michael S. Ansari Africa Center organized a luncheon colloquium today for Lieutenant-General (ret.) Jean-Paul Perruche, research director for Euro-Atlantic security at the French Ministry of Defense’s Institute for Strategic Research-École Militaire (IRSEM) and a member of Atlantic Council’s Strategic Advisors Group, and Maya Kandel, research fellow at IRSEM.

Africa France

New Atlanticist

Mar 29, 2012

How the French Might Split their Vote

By Nicholas Dungan

The French people go to the polls to choose their next president in a first-round election on April 22, with a second round between the two top contenders on May 6.

Elections France

New Atlanticist

Mar 21, 2012

Francois Hollande’s Alternative Defense Vision Worrisome

By Dan Kettinger

French Socialist presidential candidate François Hollande recently delivered his defense program in an underwhelming speech that vacillated between vague, grandiose assertions of France’s “independence” on the international stage and its need to act in concert with other countries in addressing common security threats.  

France NATO
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Experts

Fellow

Didier Acouetey

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Africa Center

Africa Economy & Business

Fellow

Léonie Allard

Nonresident senior 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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