Among many other things, Macron’s statements are just puzzling. Russia is clearly the most direct serious military threat to major parts of Europe. https://www.nato.int/docu/review/articles/2018/12/20/vostok-2018-ten-years-of-russian-strategic-exercises-and-warfare-preparation/index.html. Violent Islamic terrorism is obviously a serious security threat but it pales in military terms. 1/ https://twitter.com/macaesbruno/status/1200101633067298816

Then he appears to discount Tre China challenge. Are terrorists going to implant 5G or dictate market terms to Europe? And does he really think China is going to “help” with the terrorism challenge in a way that actually benefits Europe? 2/

It’s hard to believe he actually believes that Europe should align with Russia and China to deal with terrorists in the Sahel. Doesn’t add up. 3/

So is he trying to become a “third pole” and create distance from the US? But that would require tight European cohesion, which he blows up by selling Central and Eastern Europeans downriver by downplaying Russia. 4/

Or does he think France can play an independent role? But that’s to grossly exaggerate France’s power base. 5/

So it appears he’s alienated C & E Europeans, aggravated Americans, and probably not gained much with Moscow & Beijing. Odd. 6/