The once-cordial and very pragmatic, yet noble relationship between Germany and France are under strain. The war in Ukraine has shown the fundamental differences in how the leaders of the two countries view the world, their countries possibilities and the way to treat the problems they and their population face.
French President Emmanuel Macron is trying to shine as a true leader of the European bloc, fostering closer cooperation and new fora while German Chancellor Olaf Scholz seems to be swimming upstream, distancing himself even from the coalition he is the head of and is apparently laying down the foundations of a "Germany first" political stance.
This analysis examines what is behind these changes and observes patterns in the domain of defense policy, geopolitics and energy policy.
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