France is becoming an increasingly important security partner for Ireland, helping Dublin strengthen its defence capabilities while respecting its policy of military neutrality. Yet this growing cooperation also serves French strategic and industrial interests, raising the question of whether it will enhance Ireland’s strategic autonomy or create a new dependence on Paris.

France wants to limit the exemptions that allow Ukraine to buy weapons outside the EU under the €90 billion European loan, arguing that this money should primarily strengthen Europe’s defence industry. The move risks pitting Paris’ industrial and strategic ambitions against Kyiv’s immediate battlefield needs and its freedom to choose the most effective suppliers.

On 13 July 2026, the French, British and German leader hosted the 16th meeting of the coalition of the Willing in Paris, before an unprecedented demonstration of Force of the French military, sending a clear message to Russia: Europe will continue supporting Ukraine.

In a recent announcement, Burkina Faso broke unilateraly its diplomatic relations with France, confirming a long lasting brake between the two countries since the arrival in power of the junta.

France is trying to redefine its role in Africa through the Africa Forward summit in Nairobi, at a time of shifting geopolitical balances and growing competition for influence. Although important announcements were made, France’s success will depend less on their scale than on the credibility of their implementation.

Photo Credits : Italian army / Wikimedia Commons CC BY 2.5 In a recent exchange between journalist and the Israeli ambassador in Washington, the latter stated that Israel don’t want the French near the negotiations, after the French president Emmanuel Macron criticized the way Israel was leading its operation against Hezbollah in south Lebanon. This statement, along the general posture of Israel towards France, seems to recall the complex position of the French diplomacy in t

Introduction Over the past decade, France and Germany started multiple joint programs meant to reinforce their defence capacities and build a stronger European autonomy. From the MGCS (Main Ground Combat System) in 2012, the FCAS (Future Combat Air System) in 2017, to the Eurodrone officially launched in 2022, these initiative supported by other European partners (Spain and Italy) were meant to deepen the relationship. Nevertheless, in the past years has generated mixed signa