Macron: “Nothing should be ruled out”
The U.S. and the U.S. immediately declared that troops could not be dispatched, but
Criticized for causing a rift in Western solidarity
After French President Emmanuel Macron (pictured) said that he might consider sending troops directly to Ukraine, the West seems to have been stung. This is not only because there is a risk of provoking Russia, but also because it is a subject that has been considered a ‘taboo’ in a situation where there is fatigue from the Ukraine war within each country. The New York Times said, “It shows how difficult it is for Western allies to reach an agreement on new ways to support Ukraine.”
The controversy began with President Macron’s unexpected remarks on the 26th. At a press conference that day, he said about sending Western ground troops to Ukraine, “Nothing should be ruled out. “We will take all necessary measures to prevent Russia from winning this war,” he said.
Western leaders rushed to extinguish the fire. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz drew a line on the 27th, saying, “No European country or North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member state will send troops to Ukrainian territory.” White House National Security Council (NSC) spokesman Adrian Watson also immediately issued a statement and said, “President Joe Biden has made it clear that he will not send troops to fight in Ukraine.”
Nevertheless, French Foreign Minister Stéphane Sejournet hinted at the possibility of sending non-combat troops to the National Assembly on this day, mentioning landmine removal and cyber defense, saying, “Some of them may have to be carried out on Ukrainian territory without crossing the threshold of combat.”
Analysis suggests that the reason President Macron made such an unexpected remark was because he judged that a strong message should be sent to Russia in a situation where the threat of Russian attacks on Europe is increasing. “It is our responsibility to send a clear message to Russia against its extremely aggressive destabilization policy,” a French diplomatic source told French broadcaster BFMTV.
However, criticism remains that his remarks are causing a rift in Western solidarity. On the day he made the controversial statement, President Macron pointed out, “Two years ago, some countries only asked to send sleeping bags and helmets to Ukraine.” It was aimed at Germany, which was reluctant to provide offensive weapons to Ukraine due to concerns about an escalation of war in the early stages of the war. Reuters said, “President Macron’s remarks risk worsening tensions between France and Germany, which are at the heart of European political cooperation,” adding, “He has a reputation as a ‘diplomatic disruptor’ who likes to break taboos and challenge conventional wisdom.” He criticized it as “an appropriate statement.”
The Russian Kremlin immediately objected, even mentioning the possibility of a direct conflict between NATO and Russia. Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of the Russian National Security Council and a close associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin, criticized President Macron, saying, “Like urinary incontinence, which causes urine to be released against one’s will, he cannot hold back and repeats mistakes in speech.”
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Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.