2024-02-29 01:50:19
International
Entered2024.02.29 10:50 Modified2024.02.29 10:50
Is this a bold statement aimed at putting the spotlight on the shrinking presence at home and abroad?
Analyzing the calculated statement of ‘strategic ambiguity’ to overcome the Ukraine impasse, many observations are pouring in on the true meaning of French President Emmanuel Macron’s statement that North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) troops might be deployed in the Ukraine war. Some see it as a simple act of protrusion, motivated by a personal tendency to attract attention, while others say it is a strategic act aimed at changing the increasingly bold reality of Russia and the lethargic West.
At a press conference following an international conference on support for Ukraine held in Paris, France on the 26th (local time), President Macron said, “We should not rule out anything” regarding sending troops from NATO or some European Union countries to Ukraine.
Regarding Slovak Prime Minister Robert Pitso’s earlier comment that NATO and some EU countries were considering sending troops to Ukraine, although it was in the form of a response to a reporter’s question, it was a radical stance that left open the possibility of a direct conflict between Russia and NATO, which invaded Ukraine. . Accordingly, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany immediately denied the possibility of sending NATO troops and focused on reducing President Macron’s hard-line stance to the position of an isolated minority.
Regarding this scandal, some say that President Macron may have intentionally made strong remarks out of a desire to attract attention.
It is presumed that he was trying to open a breakthrough to increase his presence as his approval rating plummeted domestically due to the forced passage of the contentious bill and his sense of alienation grew on the international stage. France is not playing a noticeable role in the war between Israel and the Palestinian armed faction Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
It tried to persuade Russia to stop the invasion of Ukraine, but failed, and has since fallen behind the United States, Britain, and Germany in support for Ukraine. On the other hand, there are observations that President Macron’s strong remarks were planned to accurately diagnose the security reality in Europe and suggest alternatives. When formulating his policies, President Macron preferred to throw out alternatives bluntly, causing conflict and confusion, and then tackle them head-on, rather than making careful preparations.
Examples include raising the pension age, which angered many people, and easing the deportation standards for foreigners, which were criticized as being unconstitutional or sympathizing with far-right forces.
On the international stage, President Macron criticized the US-led NATO as early as 2019, calling it ‘brain dead.’
The United States, led by then-President Donald Trump, did not commit to NATO’s collective defense obligations, claiming that Europe was enjoying America’s security umbrella at a low price.
Amid the controversy over the remarks, Europe’s security crisis was highlighted more clearly.
In a media interview last year, President Macron caused controversy by saying on the Taiwan issue that “Europe should not become a pawn of the United States.”
This came from the belief that an independent security system that reflects Europe’s interests should be established.
The controversy over the remarks at the time also served as an opportunity for Europe to reexamine its security priorities at a time when the West and its authoritarian regimes are rapidly establishing themselves.
In light of President Macron’s convictions and policy presentation methods in his second term in office, the view that NATO’s theory of sending troops to Ukraine is also an extension of that is gaining strength.
The New York Times (NYT) pointed out, “This time was no exception,” and added, “President Macron may have made more efforts to show the divisions of the West and the limits of NATO allies’ defense of Ukraine by making a hasty move without agreement from allies.” President Macron has expressed the view that ‘strategic ambiguity’ is necessary to suppress Russian President Vladimir Putin.
If NATO takes the position that it cannot rule out the possibility of participating in the war in Ukraine, this means that Russia will become more cautious before continuing its invasion.
In the same context, there were many experts who criticized U.S. President Joe Biden’s position when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
This means that because President Biden chose strategic clarity by drawing a line in advance on sending U.S. and NATO troops, saying, “The conflict between the West and Russia is World War III,” Russia, which had been hesitant to gather troops on the border, became emboldened and decided to invade. .
President Macron may have felt that strategic ambiguity regarding Russia was more urgent at a time when Russia was loosed in the third year of the war.
Ukraine is repeatedly retreating from the front lines.
The main reason is considered to be the U.S.’s inability to process Ukraine’s military support budget amid political strife between the ruling and opposition parties.
Russia is expanding its offensive once morest Ukraine with virtually no restraint.
It is also clear that former President Trump welcomes a long-term war, believing that if he comes back to power, he can end the war while taking control of the occupied territories.
The general observation is that if Russia wins like that, the theft of sovereign countries’ territory will become justified, the existing world order will change, and the security landscape in Europe in particular will change dramatically. “Macron was trying to dissuade Russia by bringing in a balance of power,” Nicole Bascharin, a sociologist at the Paris School of Economics, said in an interview with the NYT. “He was trying to tell Putin that we are ready for anything and that you should be worried. He interpreted it as “he did it.”
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