Recently,France's ** Macron proposed to "share" France's nuclear weapons with EU countries, and even give the EU full control over France's nuclear forces, a proposition that immediately caused an uproar between Europe and the United States. Macron's move is undoubtedly an attempt to take advantage of the current Russia-Ukraine conflict to reshuffle the European strategic pattern and promote the EU to achieve independence in the defense system and get rid of its long-term dependence on the United States. However, the move was strongly opposed and blamed by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. A game between the two Western powers ensued over the European nuclear arrangement. Will Macron get his wish? Can Europe truly achieve strategic autonomy? A fierce wrestling has unfolded behind the scenes.
Macron's statement is undoubtedly an important move for France to gain the right to speak in the EU. After Brexit, France is eager to play a leading role in EU affairs. If the EU can be persuaded to accept French nuclear protection, Macron will be able to increase France's influence in European affairs. But the act also touches on NATO's core interests. Since the Cold War, NATO has been dominated by the United States, which countered the threat of the former Soviet Union by massively deploying nuclear ** in Europe. Macron's approach is tantamount to acting on its own in Europe and weakening NATO's authority in Europe. Therefore, it is said that it will undermine the nuclear deterrence system that NATO has worked for many years.
However,Macron's appeal has also garnered a lot of support in European countries. In recent years, Trump's rise to power has shaken America's commitment to Europe, and European countries' distrust of the United States has deepened. In addition, the decline in U.S. military action abroad has also raised concerns among European countries that the U.S. is no longer able to provide them with adequate security guarantees. Therefore, the establishment of an independent European defense system has become the aspiration of many European countries. Macron's proposition fits this demand perfectly. As long as Europe is truly united, building a common military force, and reducing its dependence on the United States, Europe as a whole will be able to play a greater role on the world stage.
However, there are still big obstacles to whether this dream can come true. Macron's call has met with strong opposition in France. Surrendering the country's nuclear power is tantamount to relinquishing sovereignty, and Macron is bound to provoke devastating criticism. Even if Macron can convince the country, France's nuclear power is far inferior to that of the United States. France alone, despite ostensibly responding to Macron's call, privately European countries still regard the United States as the most important security guarantee. Judging from the current situation, the United States will still firmly control the dominance of European affairs.
The tussle between Stoltenberg and Macron reflects the fact that Europe is caught in a dilemma. On the one hand,Europe aspires to break free from US control and achieve strategic autonomy; On the other hand, the United States remains an indispensable security guarantor for Europe. How to enhance Europe's strategic autonomy and discourse power on the premise of maintaining its alliance with the United States is a difficult problem facing European countries. Looking ahead, the game between the United States and Europe on this issue will continue. We look forward to a win-win solution for Europe to meet its legitimate security concerns while maintaining the stability and sustainability of transatlantic relations.
This incident quickly aroused heated discussions among netizens on the Internet, Europe should strive for strategic autonomy and can no longer rely too much on the United States; Some netizens also think that Macron's approach is too reckless and ill-considered, France's strength is far from replacing the United States, and this kind of move will only put Europe in an embarrassing situation that is not pleasing to both ends; Some netizens believe that Europe still needs to maintain its alliance with the United States, but it should also gradually expand its autonomy and play a more active role in international affairs. All sides of the spectrum are representative of Europe's current predicament, but everyone expects Europe to find a balance between maintaining cooperation with the United States and increasing its influence in international affairs.
In summary, Macron's push for an autonomous European defense is understandable in the current situation, but given the constraints, there are serious doubts about whether this plan can actually be realized. Europe should prudently promote the process of defense integration and gradually build up its own strength while maintaining security cooperation with the United States. How to find a balance in this complex landscape will require sustained efforts from European countries. We also hope that Europe will emerge from the shadow of dependence at an early date and play its due role in the process of world multipolarization.