In his opinion piece on dokdoc.eu, Dr. Landry Charrier argues that differences of opinion between Germany and France are nothing new and do not in themselves constitute a crisis. The key has always been to translate them into European compromises. For a long time, both countries were considered “incomplete powers”: Germany was economically strong but reserved, while France had military and diplomatic resources but less economic clout. It was precisely this mutual dependence that made cooperation necessary.
Today, the balance is shifting. Germany is gaining room to maneuver through high defense spending and feels less pressure to engage in joint projects following the failure of the FCAS arms program. France, on the other hand, is weakened by debt and political fragmentation. In Germany, concern is growing over a possible victory by the National Rally in 2027; in France, over a new imbalance of power. The author points out, however, that Germany, too, does not automatically remain predictable, as the AfD’s electoral successes show.
His core argument: Interdependence is an insurance against mistrust, not merely an expression of trust. It makes sense to reduce dependencies on Russia, China, or the U.S. However, if Berlin and Paris reduce their mutual dependencies, they weaken the bonds that make a rupture difficult and force compromises. Less mutual vulnerability would therefore ultimately mean less collective power for Europe.