In an all-out demonstration of diplomatic force, Emmanuel Macron has just launched a series of communications offensives which outline the contours of a France determined to exert influence on the world stage.
First front: digital. The French president did not hesitate to cross swords with Elon Musk, joining the growing cohort of European leaders who are concerned about the billionaire’s influence on the democratic processes of the Old Continent. A position which illustrates Paris’s desire to no longer let the tech giants dictate their law in Europe.
On the Ukrainian issue, a radical change of tone. The man who was one of the most ardent defenders of the territorial integrity of kyiv now adopts a “Realpolitik” posture. By calling for “realistic discussions on territorial questions”, Macron outlines the contours of a new diplomatic approach, more pragmatic than dogmatic.
Iran is not immune to this all-out offensive. The French head of state is raising his voice, raising the specter of a “point of no return” in the Iranian nuclear issue. A warning which positions France as the spearhead of European vigilance in the face of Tehran’s ambitions.
Finally, in a coup that did not fail to provoke a reaction, Macron unabashedly claimed the legacy of French intervention in the Sahel. With a touch of barely veiled bitterness, he is still waiting for thanks from the Sahelian states for having, in his words, prevented their fall into the hands of the jihadists. An outing which provoked the immediate ire of Chad and Senegal, denouncing a “contemptuous attitude”.
This succession of muscular interventions outlines the contours of French diplomacy which, at the dawn of 2025, seeks to establish itself as an essential voice on the international scene. Between assumed pragmatism and calculated provocations, Emmanuel Macron seems to have chosen this offensive strategy, even if it means shaking up certain sensitivities.
It remains to be seen whether this 360-degree communications war will allow France to strengthen its influence or whether, on the contrary, it risks further isolating Paris on the international scene. One thing is certain: the Macronian “at the same time” seems to have given way to an assumed “against all”.
