A few days after generating outrage among European and United States leaders by suggesting the sending of NATO troops to Ukraine, French President Emmanuel Macron reignites the controversy, creating tension in his country’s relationship with Germany.
Tensions between Berlin and Paris have intensified since last Tuesday (5), when German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius responded to Macron for urging Europe not to be “cowardly” in defending Ukraine, according to with the North American media outlet “Politico”.
“Clearly, Europe faces a moment when it will be necessary not to be cowardly,” declared Macron, adding that people “never want to see the tragedies that are to come.”
Hours later, Pistorius responded by saying that the French president’s language was counterproductive. “We really don’t need, at least from my perspective, to talk about soldiers on the ground or having more or less courage.
It doesn’t really help solve the problems we have in assisting Ukraine,” Pistorius told reporters during a press conference with his Swedish counterpart, Pal Jonson.
Macron later stated that his comments were not aimed at Germany, but that it was “necessary” to shake France’s allies. “If we are passive […] we run the risk of suffering setbacks on the ground, of facing possible disappointments in the United States”, warned the French president.
According to Politico, relations between France and Germany have been tense in recent months due to the way both nations deal with the conflict in Ukraine.
While the Germans adopt a moderate stance, the French president issues statements considered irresponsible by other European and NATO leaders.
“French-German tensions over the war in Ukraine are increasing. France has long been frustrated by the fact that Germany considers relations with Washington to be the cornerstone of European security, while Germany has been angered by Macron’s belated conversion into a self-proclaimed warmonger leader, especially when Berlin has supplied many more weapons to the Ukraine than Paris”, explains the American media.