France and the Western Response to Russia's War on Ukraine

France has been criticized in the past for not sufficiently consulting allies in its approach to Russia. But since the beginning of the crisis in Ukraine, President Emmanuel Macron has put more effort into coordinating with other EU and NATO member states and he remains in close contact with President Vladimir Putin. Beyond its diplomatic engagement, France is also leading the charge in pressing for increased EU expenditures on security and defense while it holds the presidency of the Council of the European Union.

How are French initiatives impacting Europe’s ambitions to become a more sovereign, geopolitical power? Will its upcoming elections prevent France from playing such a prominent role in the weeks to come? And in light of these developments, what are the implications for transatlantic relations and US-French relations? To discuss these questions and more, we will speak with GMF foreign policy experts Alexandra de Hoop Scheffer and Edgar Tam in this month’s edition of #TransatlanticTuesdays.

If you have any questions, please contact Matthew Delmastro at [email protected].