2022---franco-german-couple---it-s-largely-a-myth---says-nicolas-baverez -

According to Baverez, the concept of a "couple" is an asymmetrical illusion.

In October 2022, French historian and essayist famously declared that the "Franco-German couple" is largely a myth . His critique emerged during a period of open crisis between Paris and Berlin, fueled by the war in Ukraine and diverging energy and defense strategies. According to Baverez, the concept of a "couple"

: France uses the rhetoric of the "couple" to mask its own economic and political decline, similar to how the UK leans on its "special relationship" with the U.S.. : France uses the rhetoric of the "couple"

: While France pushes for "European Strategic Autonomy," Germany has historically relied on the U.S. for security, a divide that widened as Berlin prioritized American-made equipment (like F-35 jets) over joint European projects. : Russia’s invasion of Ukraine forced Germany to

: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine forced Germany to abandon its cheap gas model, leading Berlin to act unilaterally to secure its energy interests, often at the expense of European partners.

: Germany has remained an industrial powerhouse, whereas Baverez argues France has suffered from a lack of structural reform and a widening deficit. 3. A Relationship of "Interests," Not "Love"