While the NATO summit is to be held in two weeks in London, France and Germany have made proposals on Wednesday, November 20, during a meeting with their allies in Brussels, to calm tensions caused by the criticism of President Emmanuel Macron.
The latter had judged, in an interview with The Economist published in early November, the Alliance in a state of "brain death", after denouncing the lack of coordination between the United States and their allies and the only rider of Turkey in northeastern Syria.
Head of German diplomacy Social Democrat Heiko Maas proposed the formation of a committee of experts chaired by Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg to strengthen the political process within the Alliance, a military organization.
For his part, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian made a similar proposal. "A small group of eminent personalities" would be responsible in particular for reflecting on "the relationship of NATO with Russia" and "future major issues of collective security, such as the terrorist threat, China and the military impact of major technological breakthroughs, "he said in his speech at the beginning of the first working session in Brussels.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg declined to comment on the French proposal during his press briefing after the first session. On the other hand, he said that the proposal presented by Heiko Maas had "a lot of merit and interest" and that it had received "the support of many allies". Ministers were to discuss strategic issues during a working dinner.
"Show unity at the London Summit"
Jens Stoltenberg will visit Paris at the end of next week to meet President Macron. "I'm going to Paris next week to talk to President Macron to better understand his message and the reasons behind his criticism," he told a news conference in Brussels on Tuesday.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo did not want to comment on the two proposals. "I do not think it's the right time or the right format," he said during his press conference.
The brutal diagnosis of the French head of state and criticism of US leadership shocked NATO. "The damage is done, now we must limit the damage in order to display unity at the London summit," said a senior diplomat.
"NATO is destabilized by three problems: the behavior of US President Donald Trump, the behavior of Turkey and the behavior of Macron," he said.
The tension of the allies against France is not a surprise. "We are not trying to win a popularity contest, but we want to be listened to and heard," says one in Paris.
With AFP