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Opinion | Is Macron pushing the EU to rethink Nato leadership in Ukraine war?
- A dragged-out war, a boon for the US, will leave Europe drained and weaker as a geopolitical player
- In suggesting Western troops in Ukraine, Macron has shone a spotlight on the unviability of Nato’s strategy
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The European Union has struggled to be seen as an independent player amid big power rivalry, not least because of its partnership with the US-dominated Nato. French President Emmanuel Macron, a champion for strategic autonomy, sparked controversy last year when he declared that being an US ally did not mean being a “follower” or a “vassal”.
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Now, Macron has raised the possibility of a “strategic surge” of Western troops in Ukraine to repel the Russian invasion, urging Ukraine’s allies not to be “cowards”. This has alarmed Europe and Nato countries, including the US, which strongly resists direct military involvement in the war.
“There are no American soldiers at war in Ukraine. And I am determined to keep it that way,” said US President Joe Biden, even as he vowed America “will not walk away”. Nato countries including Britain and Germany have also ruled out sending troops, with German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius dismissing Macron’s suggestion as unhelpful.
Macron has stood his ground, however, insisting that “every one of the words that I say on this issue is weighed, thought through and measured”.
Many have reacted to Macron’s words with disbelief, given the unthinkable risks of an escalation of war. Some have downplayed his words, with French officials referring to activities such as demining and arms production which might make Nato’s presence in Ukraine necessary, and talking up the idea of creating “strategic ambiguity”.
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All this misses the point, in my opinion. With Ukraine’s Avdiivka falling last month in a major Russian victory, Washington and its fellow Nato allies face the idea that Ukraine’s goal of regaining all its territory is becoming an unrealistic prospect.
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