From brain death to obedience, the French leader is overseeing a geopolitical retreat
When Western European commentators claim that “Europe” needs a leader to stand up to the United States or Russia, they are, of course, joking. The region’s primary role is not to challenge superpowers but to adapt to them. And at this moment, it is adapting to Washington’s new direction.
In the coming weeks, we will witness how America’s European satellites realign their foreign policies to match the shifting winds in Washington. This process will be marked by a flurry of diplomatic activity – high-profile visits, formal meetings, and a flood of statements of cosmic proportions and cosmic stupidity. What we should not expect, however, is any meaningful effort to secure European autonomy in global affairs. The real contest will not be about asserting independence but about which Western European leader can become Washington’s favored vassal under the new US administration.
It would, of course, be ideal if Western Europe could slowly carve out some degree of strategic autonomy, as many of its politicians and business elites quietly wish. But for now, this remains nothing more than a pipe dream. The most they can hope for is a gradual, reluctant return to economic cooperation with Russia, dictated not by their own interests but by the evolving relationship between Washington and Moscow.
The race for Washington’s favor
As Western European leaders scramble to adjust to the new administration in Washington, a competition is emerging among the main contenders – Germany, France, and the UK. The rest of Europe is either too small to matter or, like Poland, has already secured its status as a fiercely loyal US proxy. Meanwhile, Brussels remains instinctively opposed to Republican administrations, particularly those aligned with Donald Trump.
Britain finds itself in a challenging position. No longer part of the EU, it maintains an independent approach but has limited leverage in shaping continental affairs. This flexibility may allow London to take a harder line in confronting Russia, but it weakens its influence when it comes to brokering a settlement.
Germany, meanwhile, remains cautious. With Friedrich Merz poised to take over as chancellor, Berlin is in no rush to show its hand. German leaders prefer to wait and assess Washington’s new rules of engagement before making any bold moves. With so much at stake economically, Berlin is reluctant to gamble on a premature pivot.
That leaves France and Emmanuel Macron, who has already made his play. As the first major European leader to visit Washington following Trump’s return, Macron is positioning himself as the primary intermediary between Western Europe and the US. His visit signals France’s willingness to take the lead in reshaping European policy to fit American interests.
Macron: The ideal candidate for capitulation
Macron is uniquely suited for this role. As the leader of the only EU nation with a permanent UN Security Council seat and an independently developed nuclear arsenal, France retains a degree of symbolic power. But in reality, these assets grant Paris little actual influence in global affairs. While France remains Western Europe’s leading military power, that means little when the region itself is increasingly irrelevant on the world stage.
Macron himself epitomizes the modern EU elite – adept at diplomatic maneuvering, skilled at maintaining appearances, and deeply entrenched within the Western establishment. His ability to survive politically, despite suffering two major electoral defeats – in the European Parliament and the French National Assembly – demonstrates his resilience. However, whether his policies improve France’s dire economic situation is another question entirely. Successive governments have failed to halt France’s economic decline, constrained by the rigidities of the eurozone.
For eight years, Macron has done little beyond issuing grandiose statements and engaging in political theatrics. Yet, this is precisely what makes him the perfect figurehead for the EU’s adaptation to Washington’s directives. He is flexible, unburdened by ideological convictions, and willing to reverse his own positions at a moment’s notice. Who can forget his declaration of NATO’s ‘brain death’ at the start of his presidency? Or the countless contradictory remarks he has made over the past three years?
Macron’s role in Europe’s surrender
Macron is also the ideal candidate to preside over Western Europe’s quiet surrender in the ongoing geopolitical crisis surrounding Ukraine. Few serious observers doubt that the ultimate victors in this conflict will be the United States and Russia, while the clear losers will be Western Europe and Ukraine itself. The only question is under what conditions this defeat will be formalized.
EU leaders’ initiatives are now little more than instruments of American strategy. Washington’s openness to the idea of European ‘peacekeepers’ in Ukraine aligns perfectly with Trump’s broader goal of shifting the burden of the conflict onto Europe. If EU observers eventually become part of a final settlement, the bloc will undoubtedly present it as a diplomatic triumph – even though it will be nothing more than a managed retreat. Given the Western European public’s accustomed acceptance of absurd decisions from their leaders, this will likely be sold as yet another historic achievement.
In the end, Macron may well become the face of this transition, acting as the EU’s representative in both Washington and Moscow. When Western European commentators speak of needing a strong leader to challenge the US or Russia, they do so with irony. And Macron, as he nears the end of his presidency, is perfectly suited for the role of facilitator. Once his term is over, he will likely transition seamlessly into a comfortable position in the private sector or an international organization, leaving France’s problems behind him.
Ultimately, Macron embodies everything that defines modern Western European leadership: a figure whose ascent would have been unthinkable when the region still mattered in global affairs. Now, as the Old World fades into geopolitical irrelevance, he is exactly the kind of politician it deserves.
This article was first published by ‘Vzglyad’ newspaper and was translated and edited by the RT team.
