Read on Twitter
Two interesting bits here. Merkel telling Macron that she is fed up. https://twitter.com/StevenErlanger/status/1198164037621682178
And: "There are also concerns among allies that Mr. Macron is considering a speech about creating a nuclear deterrence based on Europe, so as not to rely on the Americans. ...
... That idea will further infuriate Berlin and the Central Europeans, in part because no one believes that France’s nuclear deterrent is capable of covering the Continent, and British nuclear deterrent is almost entirely dependent on American nuclear missiles."
What's missing, in my view, in the piece is that Germany isn't just passive and immobile, but simply disagrees with Macron's disruptive ideas. The German view has been clearly laid out by @HeikoMaas in response to Macron. https://germanysworld.substack.com/p/a-german-response-to-macron
The popular narrative of energetic strategic Macron vs immobile, passive Merkel is misleading. The conflict is between two different and partly opposing strategies in the Trump era, one loud and wordly (France), the other rather quiet (Germany).
Implicit in this popular narrative is that one is right (Macron) and the other wrong (Merkel). Yet both are positions shaped by both sides’ specific views and interests, both are consistent and legitimate.
A truly frank and productive German-Franco debate is needed, in which both sides clearly put the national views and interests on the table — and try to figure out where there is common interest and ground, with regard to European security.
What would be clearly counterproductive by contrast is another public attempt by Macron to put pressure on Merkel by giving another far-reaching speech or interview. That’s not a successful method to build a partnership — and has obviously failed in the last years.
