The French president seeks international leadership

Beyond the results announced, but not yet certified, the most evident figure at the end of the summit of the seven advanced economies, which took place in France, is the French president's desire to find a more significant role on the international scene. The progress on fundamental issues for world stability, Iran, relations with China and the question of commercial duties, for the time being, do not have much effect: the positive side is that a discussion has started on issues that were mainly affected by the US ostracism. The availability shown by President Trump, however, must not deceive: the White House tenant has now accustomed the international audience to sudden changes of direction, thanks to a strategy based on improvisation, not even so clear to the members of his government. Probably the French scenario has stimulated the President Amerciano to a certain condescension, favored by the attitude of the landlord, willing to play on more tables to try to re-establish a French role not aligned, but actually interpreted in support of the most important site American. The intentions of the French president are not entirely understood: whether to gain leadership in Europe, taking advantage of the concomitant descent of Chancellor Merkel or regaining the favors of the USA, after a difficult period of bilateral relations. Certainly the scheme that guides Macron's action is one inspired by a non-aligned foreign policy (favored by the progressive American decoupling from a leading nation of the West) but capable, through dialogue with every international actor, of finding global solutions. All in a general framework that refers to European values; as we see a foreign policy program not of medium power, but as a subject capable of exercising a leading role in Europe. The question is that France alone cannot be able to exercise this role without the support of the European Union. To have this important role it is necessary to bring tangible results and not ambitious programs. Certainly bringing the Iranian issue to the attention of US policy is a first appreciable result, and Trump's willingness, if sincere, to see the Iranian president represents the release of a world order problem. Iran has already asked to withdraw sanctions, but Trump, and also the French president expect, at least, Tehran's return to Vienna conditions. However, having created the conditions for the resumption of dialogue is already a first result, which Macron also owes to the attitude of the European Union, but also of China and Russia, not to follow the United States on the unilateral withdrawal of the treaties. We must also remember that, beyond Trump's availability, the US is pursuing other objectives, as well as preventing Iran from becoming a nuclear power and, that is, they want Tehran not to intervene in Syria, Lebanon and Yemen. On these points it will be more difficult to obtain a dialogue, because Iran considers these American objectives a sort of interference with its foreign policy, which come, not so much from American strategic interests, but from explicit requests from Saudi Arabia and Israel. But these requests do not concern the French president, who keeps them very distinct from the Iranian nuclear issue, which is the central argument for Paris. It is also necessary to consider a further reason, which may explain the activism of the French president: the impression is that Macron tries to recover with the international action the lost consent with his government action in France. Recalling the French grandeur always has a certain popular effect and can be used to regain positions within the French electorate, especially if the foreign policy action takes place far from the autumn, when internal economic questions will again be at the center of the attention of the French public opinion. If Macron aspires to a leading role in Europe, it will have to worry about relaunching the European institutions through redistributive policies focused on work and employment, far from the liberalist recipes they like: only then can they aspire to a European leadership role, provided that it is also confirmed in your country.