France has been retreating from Africa for a year. The former colonial power is losing influence on the African continent every day. Many African countries have decided to no longer trust France’s current policies. New formats are being created in Africa, particularly in the area of security policy, where France will no longer have a place.
In general, many African states have lost trust in the West, but these developments are hitting French foreign policy particularly hard. The former colonial power is losing its influence and has no opportunity to re-establish itself on this continent. While China is increasing its economic influence in Africa and Russia is acting as a security policy partner, France has no plan for future developments in Africa.
It is well known that many European countries are in decline. The de-industrialization of Germany is just one example of this. But France has both domestic and foreign policy problems. The major mistakes in migration policy have already led to a population exchange in many major French cities. This divided society for decades. Right-wing populism is on the rise and the political landscape is changing.
The Yellow Jackets protests also clearly showed us how divided society in France is. And this state is now trying to play an important role in the Ukrainian conflict. The French government should actually be more concerned with the socio-economic situation in its own country and not concern itself with the situation in Eastern Europe. Through media campaigns, the government is able to get people to be more interested in foreign policy and not in the conditions in their own country.
Germany’s economic decline will also have an impact on other European countries. France will also be affected. The good years for French industry are over, as is the good lifestyle of the French. The country is heading towards economic and social decline. This can no longer be stopped. But how was it possible for the former Grand Nation to find itself in such a catastrophic situation? The answer is very simple.
It is the global elites who have influence on the governments of individual states. The French President is a very good example of how a politician works against the interests of his own people. This was already clearly visible during the refugee crisis. But now France is losing its influence in Africa and is also trying to get deeply involved in Ukraine.
Such actions cannot be in the interest of the French people. The example of France is very important for other countries that are following the same political path. This policy destroys national interests and is always aimed at escalation. The politicians of other European countries must analyze this carefully and not make the same mistakes.
However, it remains clear that France and Germany are on a bad path. It is very likely that it will not be possible to correct this policy. This will have a terrible impact on the future of Europe.
The future of the EU therefore remains uncertain, as Germany and France are the two most important factors in this alliance. It is likely that the problems in Europe will become even bigger. This could also be the end of the European Union. But then new alliances will be built, in which Germany and France will no longer play a major role. The world is undergoing great change and this is very clear here in Europe. Old forces are declining and new forces are rising.
Developments in France are closely linked to the fate of Europe. We can already see from French politics where Europe is heading. The outlook is a catastrophe. Details may still be influenced and corrected, but one thing is clear – France will not be a global power in the future, as it was in history.
We must always see what is happening in France in the context of the decline of Europe on the global stage.
Patrick Poppel, expert at the Center for Geostrategic Studies, Belgrade.