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I m french and I strongly disagree on your opinion that the Villepin discours in 2003 on the non intervention in the irak war is not a example of franco-arab ties but it s the showcase of the excellence of French intelligence agencies who new that Irak didn't have weapon of mass destruction WMD , and new that Colin Powell was a liar. I will admit that France is strongly invested in arab relation, and I m not really fan of that. ( I m a strong supporter of Israel ) a better example could have been Sarkozy who invite Kadhafi in Paris. But 2003 Irak was a terrible decision who turn arab world against Nato , Powell and Bush should be in jail for me it s war crime If your are against Russian invasion in 2022 you should also be against 2003 US coalition invasion Both brandish false WMD accusation for starting the war. Bush said that Irak was supporting of Al-Qaïda and it was a lie Poutine say that Ukraine is a Nazi state , also a lie 2003 was the start of the failure on GWOT ( global war on terror ). Do your lesson please, I love your work but keep your shoes straight , no double standard
13:51 On the topic of the friendliness of central Europe to the US, I have this to say as a Romanian: we don't trust western Europe to back us if things go down a dark path. As a small country, we need a powerful guarantor. The US, despite some bumps along the way, has kept its word in every situation that mattered. If the US makes a deal with you, it keeps it (EDIT: Most recent example is them sending huge numbers of additional troops to eastern Europe at the request of the Bucharest Nine, led by Poland and Romania). This is important for soft power projection (that is, countries willingly doing what you want). France and Germany do not inspire nearly as much confidence. Hypothetically, if there was no NATO, just the EU mutual defence guarantees, a Russian invasion would be followed by Germany and France trying to get Russia to the negotiating table while more and more Romanians bleed. There is no faith here in any kind of reliable defence from western Europe. If Germany and/or France proves itself a strong, pro-active guarantor of sovereignty, then we can start talking. Until then, we'll continue relying on the US, and contribute to NATO (including bleeding for US invasions) as that makes us safe.
As an American I’d like to say that you’re opinion is both refreshing and realistic. America as a whole gets a lot of flack(some justified some not) from people criticizing our interventionist policies and what’s seen as some form of new colonialism. We’ve certainly made mistakes, but if it weren’t for the U.S basically keeping most of if not all major wars and conflicts from breaking out over the last 70 years while simultaneously guaranteeing the safe transport and shipping of goods for free all over the world, then world would be a much more dangerous, poor, and hungry place. Hell just look at what’s going on from Russia invading Ukraine. Economies are in recession all over the world, energy prices are skyrocketing and we’re at risk of a massive global famine which by the way, only hasn’t happened yet because we’re still eating last years harvest.
As a Canadian I just wanna say we’d be right there with you. We may not be the strongest nation but if you take a look at our record, when a friend needs help we’re there! Most recently we’ve seen despite our smaller population Canadians have been one of the largest groups to volunteer in Ukraine. If our NATO ally needs us we’ll be there with everything we got 🇨🇦❤️🇷🇴
Yeah i think the current war in Ukraine and how the West responded is a clear indicator of who can actually be trusted. I'm from the UK, but we have offered assistance to Eastern Europe before and during this crisis. When Poland had immigrants rushing over the border from Belarus, we actually sent aid to help control the situation. We have troops stationed in the Baltic States at all times too and that number is likely to increase. Same with Ukraine, we sent tons of weapons and supplies at our own army's expense and have been training 10's of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers, many of which are over here right now training safely in the UK. The US has really stepped up, though it could be argued they could do more, they have done far more than any other nation to support Ukraine. Germany and France on the other hand have shown their true colours, that they have no intention of helping anyone out at their own expense. France has always just served its own interests under the guise of acting in the interests of the EU. But what they really want is for business to go back to the way things were before, regardless of the cost to Ukraine. Macron embarrassed himself by constantly trying to mediate to Putin acting like his friend, only for Putin to go against everything they had discussed mere weeks later. It was just a political tool for Macron to try look strong to the French people but actually did nothing to help the situation whatsoever. Germany, and Trump actually pointed this out, on one hand talks about Russia being a threat and rival, yet has become far too reliant upon Russian gas and oil sending them ridiculous amounts of money as a result. They were quite happy to ignore it's NATO obligations at the expense of everyone else so they could just continue to get what they wanted out of Russia. But now they don't have a choice and can't hide or rely on it's flawed system it designed for itself. How could it in good conscience claim to be a member of NATO and an ally to the West when it actively works against it in policy, it has been forced to make a choice and is paying the consequences of sitting idly exploiting the geopolitical climate now. Hopefully Germany will make positive changes now but it's going to take some time to see any real change or contribution from them. Even now they likely still just want it to end so they can go back to business as usual with Russia and stay in power. I wonder what the German people think about this situation.
@@XerxesZangeneh Italy has always had collapsing governments since WWII, but they seem to manage fine, Italy is a rich country, G7 member, the home of Ferrari and Gucci and the best food in the world, and really nice people, maybe they just like drama in politics?
@@XerxesZangeneh you mean they have a new government every 4-6 month :) but fun put aside, Italy still has a foreign policy that survives its governments. Internal turmoil still reduces its effect outward a great deal. "Always focus on home, not time to look outside.." so to say
@@XerxesZangeneh Italy Is supposedly a full on Republic, but in practice it tends to transform itself into a technocracy most of the time. While many think the government Is "collapsing", this Is Just It working _PROBABLY_ not as intended, but still as It Always has, really. The issue lies mostly in the way the government Is structured, in how hard It Is to reform It, in creeping and insidius corruption at all levels of government, from Mafia infiltration or otherwise, massive divisions and conflicting interests between the populace, and the general ineptitude and unwillingness to work for the country or its people rather than for themselves from pretty much everyone in the upper/ruling class. For these reasons, governments are massively unstable and tend to collapse Midway trought Their terms, and governing It Is essentially impossible as some politicians even stated outright, to the point where even Mario Draghi, Who Is by far the most competent ruler we had in decades, WANTS to resign. The same guy Who saved the Euro doesn't want to deal with our BS. In general Italy Is Just a REALLY complex country, its like that One piece of technology that when looking at It, you think to yourself It really shouldn't work, when you analize It you can SEE It shouldn't work, when you break It piece by piece and Build It back up you KNOW It shouldn't work, but still somehow not only works, It works Better than many alternatives. Could be some really complex siocio-economic reasons. I like to think its Just witchcraft.
Commitment of France's resources on the European continent, as is required for an adversarial stance towards Russia and a position of solidarity with Eastern Europe, would reduce it's available resources for maintaining it's influence in Africa. For now, it prioritizes the latter, but if the geopolitical situation continues to degrade in Europe - as seems probable, then it is conceivable that at some point it will be forced to prioritize the former.
@@Hession0Drasha There are no uranium mines in Mali. France gets its uranium mostly from Niger, with which it has a much better relation than Mali, but if Mali becomes an untable hub for regional jihadism, then the ripple effects will also be felt in Niger
It depends.. Macron wants a European federation with a standing army, this could be the perfect catalyst for that that he doesn’t want to take advantage of. However he will only be president until 2027 and if someone like Le Pen or Melenchon get elected then those plans are dead. The whole Europe from Lisbon to Vladivostok is impossible when there are two competing superpowers. One won’t simply give up sovereignty to the other. That being said, this is a test. So far I think it was cringey seeing macron trying to deescalate before the invasion and seeing him getting laughed at by Putin.
@@damienpeladan481 Mali collapsing would mean another failed state along the Mediterranean. This is the last thing the French and Southern Europeans want as Libya is bad enough.
As a half-Belgian half-Chinese who’s spent most of my time in China, mostly in Hong Kong, I agree that it would be better if the US could focus all of its efforts on China. There is no greater threat to Western Civilisation and values than the Chinese Communist Party
There is one: climate change. Another threat to the Western Civilization is the Western Civilization itself, particularly in the US with reactionary movements, out of control corruption and oligarchy and the police state. You are not wrong though, the CCP is the biggest rival on the geological chess board. But not the biggest threat.
Agree completely, but Russia is still destabilizing. It's possible both Russia and China will both go bankrupt and Balkanize in the next decade. That might be interesting.
@@hansgruber788 it is and it isn’t. But I’ve been to Mainland China enough times to see the level of brainwashing and censorship going on over there. And now they’re doing the same to HK, blatantly changing/erasing history to please their own narrative
Poland is fast turning into especially the land powerhouse on the continent, with all of its recent weaponry procurements and the closeness to the USA. Poland will be able to yield this power to it's benefit in many different ways to the good of Poland and its people and to the western world as a whole.🇵🇱🇵🇱🇺🇸🇺🇸
@@jensboettiger5286 another way to look at it is that it dissuades other countries from invading you. Even if they are part of NATO, it is reassuring to know they have a robust domestic capability for defense.
the same retoric 50 years in the past replace poland with West Germany - the same picture - history repeating - im curious if Poland already sign the nuclear participation - has Poland already ordered F35?
This reminds me of something one of my university professors told me when I was studying history. “The USA will always chase after money, the British will always chase after power, and the French will always chase after glory. Look at how well that worked out for each of them.”
You’re professor has been around the block once or twice and knows his history. I don’t agree with the videos sentiment about France, personally I think it’s mostly just poorly veiled narrative constructed for the purpose of today’s political stance against Russia and lobbying support for that ever illusive “solidarity” my government seems to expect and if not, demand compliance. I feel like one of a very limited amount of Americans who can see through the hypocrisy and look upon the hegemonic entities at the real heart of things. Ahh, whatever I’m just a peon of course. I’ll sit back and try to enjoy the ride, unfortunately.
Umm, US is a superpower, England still has vastly greater influence & power than its geographic size would suggest... France has some good food... Honestly France hurts itself by being petty & arrogant, undermining its allies in order to make fanciful power plays or coddle relations with sketchy countries so that it can feel more influential.
Excellent analysis I fully concur as a French citizen! Poland has never gone to war against France, on the contrary, it was France's truest and most staunch ally, but unfortunately French elites have betrayed Poland several times, and sought support elsewhere! It is shameful, especially in 1939... De Gaulle was a visionary in that respect, and so was of course Napoleon Bonaparte also. Russian alliance is illusionary, it does not have the same interests. On the other hand, don't forget also though that France is also a maritime power, and that our interests are not only in Europe, but on all oceans.
I am not sure why Poland should be preferred to Germany by France. This sounds a bit Policentric view. The French/Polish alliance in the past were for most part alliances to restrain Germany's expansionism. There is no appetite for adventures of that kind in Germany anymore. Economically France's allies are in the south when it comes to budget discipline and keeping low interest rates. Militarily Poland Germany and France are all in the same boat. I know Germany is not happy about not getting cheap gas from Russia anymore but that is reality now. By the way an interesting topic would be the upcoming elections of Italy and what kind of effect this might have on the support for the Ukraine war.
This channel always has been ethnocentric. It's interresting if you want to know what polish people think but not so much if you want an unbiased view.
Germany is not expanding via military force anymore, but it is very much expanding via economic means. First it is good to have balance in Europe. Second it is in France's best interest to gain economic positions where there is opportunity to do so which currently happens to be the Three Seas axis, it is already at a major economic and thus EU influence disadvantage to Germany and it will get much worse if Germany is allowed to completely consolidate economic influence over CE as then those states will naturally take the German side in any EU dispute - even if they do not wish it, their dependence on Germany will leave them no choice. Which leads me back to my first point - it is in everyone's interest to have balance in the EU. All states go through bad periods and Germany obviously will too. In such cases balance will prevent any one state from causing major damage - to itself and to the rest of Europe.
Germany's politicians have been too close to Russia for a long time, and if a chance to renormalize relations were to occur, even at the expense of Ukraine and Poland Germany would probably take it. France and the UK have always been on the same side of curbing Russia expansionism into Central Europe, something Germany historically hasn't opposed as strongly.
@@idleishde6124 Historically that is my point. The problem with the Ukraine war, they didn't want to see it coming. After WW2 in Germany there was no interest in geopolitical games that Britain, France and the US were playing. They were part of it but not leading but following. In that sense they have a passive attitude towards things, but I would not describe as evil intend it is more geopolitical ignorance and incompetence in that regard. But I hope Germany will find it's responsibility within the community of democracies of Europe to defend its values no matter if they are in central Europe or eastern Europe.
He doesnt need to French help to Ukraine has great, anything from vehicles, some of the most advanced artillery, anti tank missiles, advance artillery rocket to Spy sattelite imaging, to hundreds of thousands of Ukranian refugees, to billion of dollars to fund weapon sales and to keep the Ukranian economy afloat.
@@tunahxushi4669 Apparently Macron is still too busy thinking like a boy about how cool it is that he got laid by his school teacher to think about things an adult in his position ought to be thinking about, like how to run a democratic nation, let alone how to advance a sane geopolitical strategy which will outlast him for said nation.
no it's not. It's highly biased and videos like this prove it 100%. Caspianreport & Strategy Stuff are two channels that analyze history in a much more realistic way, without "opinion" pieces of 30year-olds with a Master's degree.
Not a single word about arguably the greatest achievement in postwar Europe, and the greatest contribution to European stability. The Franco German friendship. It was in France's own interest to thouroughly demilitarize Germany, so France can lead Europe. This has largely been a success. The author does not mention the importance of the good relations between France and Germany in a single breath. He only portrays Germany as a threat to France and Poland. This video argues that France should ally with Poland to diminish Germany. Just like the nationalists argue in Poland. Europe has moved on from such bilateral alliances, and unless people like this author understand that Europeans have to work together and not against each other, the EU will remain weak.
As a German I can agree. He was one of the fathers of European peace and what is today known as the European Union. (yes I know. not piece for all of Europe. But at least for the members of that union) I wouldn't want to imagine a world were Germany and France isn't that closely intervened as both countries are today. Alex C. No, Napoleon wasn't ready for that big leap that France did under De Gaulle as he brought Europe together. Napoleon also did great things. Like bringing the code civil into middle Europe. But he was more driven by megalomaniac. While Napoleon was about winning wars De Gaule won the peace. Something Napoleon never was able to do.
From the US, I've always found it strange how France (seemingly) has such a strong anti-American stance. I've always seen Europe as a big brother to America; Europe is the birthplace of democracy, the rule of law, and personal freedom. Our common heritage should bind us together. And yet, France acts like there must be some counterbalance to the US for some reason. I just don't understand why France wants to benefit from American strength but wants to also keep the US at arm's length.
France was the center of western civilization for (debatabley) about 1,000 years. From Charlemagne's rise to Napoleon's defeat. It's hard to come to reality and let go of power and influence. Especially to a far-away English-speaking upstart... (That's not to say they don't like the US. They just want their own worldwide influence. And the EU is the conduit)
I see your point, but as a french let me explain, France has been fucked over and over and over and over by the Americans, the British and the english-speaking world as a whole (either as allies or ennemies). Therefore there is a lot of skepticism in France about the anglos and what they're doing. From 2003 Iraq, the betrayal of 39 and 40, 1914, the many ways in which the americans have fucked us over.
it's because of opposite interests. Just look a Iraq, France sold many weapons to Saddam Hussein while the us wanted saddam to go. At the end of the day, us interest always go in conflict with our interests
@@zedxyle We just don't have the same interests and the US/UK alliance being so close doesn't help us trust the US much. Add to that the US turning away from Europe to focus on Eastern Asia & its anti-Arab policy, and we're back in the same mess as the 60s.
@@zedxyle In contrast, the UK has largely moved on because they can always attribute the US success to their own legacy. After all, it is a former British colony and were Britain of the time not as liberal as it was, the Founding Fathers would have given as little of a shit about democracy as their counterparts further Southward. Had France not lost Quebec to the British during the Seven Years' War, it would most likely have evolved into a kind of a similar, albeit in all likelihood far smaller, less powerful and more authoritarian French version of the US. In that case, today's France would be simping for that country instead, on the very same "so proud of my boy, proves that I've been a good father" grounds.
I’d like to point out something about the US that very rarely gets brought up. The US has three natural/necessary allies, the UK, Canada, and Mexico. It has zero existential security concerns outside of civil war and nuclear war. Even if it chose not to engage geopolitically, it would retain almost all of its instruments of power. The US could very easily contain itself to the Western Hemisphere and maintain a decent standard of living for its citizens. So when we say “the US needs so and so” what we’re really saying is the US’s neo-liberal global project needs so and so. The US doesn’t NEED very much at all. That’s why it’s so incredibly powerful.
This is a great overview. What I find terrifying about the USA is that they only spend 3% GDP on its military. In 1944 the USA spent 62% on GDP... The USA also has a large technological lead over its competitors now. The outcome of a USA geared for Total War would be terrifying.
@@millevenon5853 The US federal budget sometimes is equal to the entire German economy. So that should give you an idea. That is why Japan and South Korea have the US military there.
I have some problems with the basics of this thinking f.e. in "historical ties". These historical ties occured in rightless times, when it was just usual (and considered as fameful!) that empires invaded other empires and were proud of that. Prussia, Austria and Russia divided Polland-Lithuania, proud to have conquered parts of it. And they did it, because they knew, that also also Polland-Lithuania would have swallowed Austria, Prussia or Russia, when having an opportunity for that. All that strategic thinking of making a counterweight against these historical enemies is based upon such an era in which how Immanuel Kant described it, states have an order inside, but are lawless against each other. When states were proud for having conquered this territory, occupied that colony and having massacred several uprising populations, not satisfied with the new rule. In such a world you need of course to seek strategical, long-lasging alliances, mostly with states who have similar interests like between Prussia and Russia in dividing Polland. The fact is, that today this era has Ended in Europe I think in the 1960. Historical conquests, colonial pasts etc. are all over Western states considered either as unimportant or even as a morale burden of their state's history. No German would shift the French-German border to the Marne, neither a French-man to the Elbe (even in case that such a conquest would be able without any losses in the own army!), in spite of the fact that these ideas of conquering were modern not so long ago. Today we have a West that is struggling maintaining the own identity but facing identities that still think in the way of conquest. French culture of 21st century is not threatened by an expansionistic German culture, but maybe by an Islamic culture that prefers taking stakes of Europe than improving their own societies. Not German bombs threat to terrorize the people in Paris, but Islamic extremists do so. On the German side vice versa. We only have today a conflict between the political West, which is non-expansionistic since the decolonization-era and civilizations who still think in rules of expansionism like f.e. the putinistic-ruled Russia and on the mid-term run maybe even with High-Tech-totalitarian systems like red-Chine. But their are no threats within Western cultures, because they're all non-expansionistic today. This questions the idea of "historical alliances", which had occured in another era. Non-expansionistic countries follow a logic if they ally with other non-expansionists. If I'm not a robber, my natural allie is another non-robber, not the guy who robs today only my neighbour (I could be his next victim). And so it's just not a question of history who your allies are. A Western, non-expanding state that supports nowadays an expansionistic anachronism maintains treason against the West. And an non-expansionistic state that tries to contain another today non-expansionistic state (for example if non-expansionistic French think about containing a non-expansionstic Germany) have just not understood our time. Putinism, High-Tech-Totalitarianism (also called data-fascism), Islamism and so on are the threat of nowadays. And I expect from all free people who want to stay free, that they ally with other people who want to be free. Living in the past and maintaining "historical alliances" with expansionists and totalitarisms means to live without reason in our time, because such people live the spirit of a time that is gone - at least in Western countries.
Europe should be United against Russia and also rearm so america doesn’t have to focus so much on defending Europe. Europe should be able and strong enough to handle Russia alone while the US can go focus on China
Europe is not a one organism. There are countries for example like Germany that have expanded it's economic ties heavily with ruZZia over the last decades despite concerns and critice from the CE countries. How are these contries going to accept german assurancess with something like that - they can always come to the conclusion that it's worth to sell the CE for the peace and the possiblity of trading with RF. And that's not a SF scenario like some would like to depict.
@@pierren___ EU army will be useless if its led by cowards like France and Germany. They are too scared to send weapons to Ukraine and the Anglo saxons are doing all the work
The UK gave the US all its over seas bases after the war. It bascially handed over its empire to the US to continue on. France on the other hand was more interested in trying to rebuild their empire. Its the whole reason the US got involved in Vietnam (a french colony prior). France always wanted to seem like an equal to the us/uk alliance. And it seems to have shifted it centuries long grudge it had the briton to the us. This is apparent even today. Its more interested in french speaking ex-colonies in africa and middle east than in nato unity. It wants german money, eu brain drain and russian resources to build itself as equal to the us. Even as one of the founding 5 atomic powers (us, uk, france, russia/ussr, china) it periodically sided with non-uk/us actions as a way to 'prove its point'. This is getting to a point where, france will either have to 'join the club' as a jr member (like all other nato counteries do) or get left to fend for itself. with economic stress on the eu, and russia cutting off its trade to them, I don't think they'll have a century to figure out the answer to that question.
For the foreseeable future, I can't see France being invited into the American fold. I hope this means something coming from an American: France is absurdly narcissistic. There's a reason why we give military secret tech to Israelis or Japanese.
Ressources from Russia? wtf are you talking about. France don't want to delusion itself thinking we can be the US. Just willing to maintain our society model.
The only reason why the US got involved in Vietnam is that they fund the Vietminh agaist the French in the late 40's, the same thing that they did in afghanistan in the 80's...
I always wait for your videos. Beside the "three seas initiatives" I'd like to see a video about the former Easter Block countries, since Poland becomes a regional power, Romania developes as well in their region, the Baltic States, Czech Republic and Slovakia, Hungary and other states thrive as well. It would be interesting what role all this countries play in the future of Europe in regards to economy, cultural development and a maybe militarily aspect. Thanks a lot for the great videos. Cheers from Austria
So would I, that'd be great. Would be nice to see Romania's huge tech sector and cybersecurity, Poland's air defence network acting as the anchor in the region and the baltic states and their huge defensive infrastructure and plans to turn the entire region into a quagmire in case of invasion highlighted and explained. I honestly don't know enough about the Czech Republic, Slovakia or Hungary in terms of NATO role to say what their primary contribution is. Regardless of NATO role, the Czechs could always bring the beer :P
@@barbariandude I think the Czechs are somehow underestimated. Think about their weapon industry like the C.Z. arms, the TATRA Company, they even own not the famous Colt from the US. On the other side, you might be right about the Romanians and the Poles. These two have a long history of fighting together. Example: the Battle of Vaslui. The Czechs are also thankful regarding the Romanians, since they did not attack Prague as the Soviets demanded it in the half of the last century. Let's hope this great nations come back to the glory of the past, because we in the west lost our ability to do so for many postmodern reasons.
@@alexnelson4914 by today's standards. Probably. How about the west? In few years we turn into non monolithic mix of Islam,gay, transgender, and all kind of nonworking bunch of postmodernists voters . Do you think that anyone votes in favor of what we want and will it be good for our country and in our interests?
Some of you are confused as to why would France involve itself more with Poland. Let me explain. Poland puts a wedge between Germany and Russia which together annihilate France Influance-wise (Poland jurisdiction-wise) as history shows. With strong Poland Germany needs to play nice with other "Western kids", which leaves Russia isolated. This enhances France's position in comparison. Poland is a loyal friend - just wants to be secure (Russo - german tendecy to bond and then fight, has always been the biggest detriment for this region, so Poland preferably would always pick France over Germany) . We would have no qualms with realising most France's political projects. Question is, what exactly are those. They keep conjuring up mirages of a unified european security structure (with France in the leading role most ludicrously). One wonders how they intend to achieve that, when alone they are the weakest of the 3 continental players and they refuse to support prospects materialising their goal before them. I guess milking Africa and spewing empty words is good enough.
So the argument is about why France should choose Poland over Russia. While I fundamentally agree I don't see your explanation. Why would a strong Poland result in less relations between Russia and Germany? Why do you say that Germany needs to orient itself towards western Europe (not Russia) with a strong Poland? The interest Germany has in Western Europe is fundamentally different from that in Russia. One can't replace the other. Western Europe are partners, Russia a resource dump. And why do I have the feeling that your reasoning is more appropriate for the early 20th century then modern day? Russia is fundamentally a thread for the EU, proven to be unable to become a partner. That is the simple reason why France and Germany need closer ties to Poland, not Russia. And Germany can't rely on Russia for resources anymore eliminating the big reason for a partnership between Russia and Germany anyway. (besides the former "influencing Central Europe where Russian involvement would be harmful for German interests nowadays)
so who do you want to lead the European defence ? you prefer USA to defend you rather than doing it yourself among europeans ? France has the only real army in Europe, you need to educate yourself. I can hear your hate though.
@@privatesale211 The problem is most European militaries are very weak due to having relied on the United States for decades. Even the more competent European militaries lack the military experience, funding, and industrial capacity to be able to compete with the United States as a defense guarantor. I mean if you look at Ukraine the US has been able to give the most military equipment because it not only has the stocks but also the industrial capacity to replace the equipment it gives, even countries like Poland at making deals to give military equipment to Ukraine on the basis that the US will replace that equipment. When it comes to military affairs the US is probably the most experienced and reliable partner, look at Australia canceling its deal with France to instead work with the US.
@@privatesale211 No hate, just bitterness looking at your ineptitude. You may flex with the "real army", but your president keeps bouncing on Putin's co*k undermining the whole European's community effort. Yes, the whole effort. Cuz the only reasonbly humane way this thing ends, is if Russia breaks down mentaly and folds. For that to happen, we need to be presenting a unified front. It's kind of hard to do when the two would-be leaders of Europe are calling Putin every 15 minutes to check up if he is not too upset. This sort of behaviour is what led to this situaton in the first place. He thinks you are weak and you are proving him right.
German support to Ukraine so far: 20000 protective vests in 2014[188] Vektor reconnaissance drones (not provided by federal government)[189] The following has been delivered to Ukraine according to the federal government:[190] 3,000 Panzerfaust 3 cartridges plus 900 launchers, with the first 1000 being sent on 26 February 2022, breaking a long tradition of banning weapon exports to active warzones.[191][192] 14,900 anti-tank mines 500 STINGER anti-aircraft missiles 2,700 9K32 Strela-2m[193][194] 700 were found to be no longer usable. 5,100 MATADOR anti-tank weapons via Dynamit Nobel[195] Additional 2,900 MATADOR anti-tank weapons via Dynamit Nobel by June 26 [196][197] 21.8 million rounds of handgun ammunition 5 million 7.62×51mm NATO rounds[198] 3 million 5.56×45mm NATO rounds[198] 100 MG 3 machine guns with 500 spare barrels and bolts 100,000 hand grenades 5,300 explosive charges 100,000 meters of detonating cord and 100,000 detonators 350,000 detonators 100 auto-injectors 14 anti-drone sensors and jammers 10 anti-drone cannons 28,000 combat helmets 15 pallets of military clothing 280 motor vehicles ( trucks, minibuses, SUVs) 100 tents 12 power generators 6 pallets of material for explosive ordnance disposal 125 twin telescopes 18 pallets of medical supplies, 60 surgical lights Protective clothing, surgical masks 10,000 sleeping bags 600 shooting glasses 1 radio frequency system 3,000 field telephones with 5,000 reels of field cord and carrying equipment 1 field hospital (joint project with Estonia) 353 Night vision goggles (NVG's) 4 electronic anti-drone devices[199] 165 binoculars Medical supplies (including rucksacks, first-aid kits) 38 laser range finder Fuel diesel and petrol 10 tons of AdBlue 500 pieces of wound dressings to stop bleeding MiG-29 spare parts 30 armored vehicles 80 Toyota pickup 10,500 rounds of artillery ammunition (including SMArt 155 guided ammunition [200][201]) 14 armored cars by 25 March[198] (probably now included in either the "motor vehicle" or "armored vehicle" entries(?)) "Vector" reconnaissance VTOL drones via Quantum-Systems[202][203] 20,000 protective-vests (in 2014)[204] 1,300 bullet-proof vests[198] 500,000 military food rations[199] 10 Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled howitzers including adaptation, training and spare parts provided by the German Army in Idar-Oberstein[205][206](joint project with the Netherlands) 10,000 155 mm artillery ammunition 3 MARS II along with GMLRS rockets[207][208][205] 5 GEPARD anti-aircraft tanks[205] Signed off, not yet delivered due to training or technical adaption: 53,000 rounds of anti-aircraft ammunition 8 mobile ground radars and thermal imaging devices 4,000 rounds of anti-aircraft training ammunition 10 (+ optional 10) autonomous surface vessels 14 semi trucks and trailers 2 tractor units and 4 trailers 1 high frequency device and related equipment 10 protected vehicles 7 jammers 8 electronic anti-drone devices 4 mobile, remote-controlled and protected demining devices 1 vehicle decontamination point 43 recon Drones 54 M113 armored personnel carriers with armament (systems from Denmark, conversion financed by Germany) 25 GEPARD anti-aircraft tanks including around 6,000 rounds of anti-aircraft ammunition 100,000 first aid kits IRIS-T SL air defence system(s)[209] Cobra counter-battery radar system(s)[210][211] 5,032 anti-tank weapons 3 Bergepanzer 2 [212] 5 Biber bridge laying tanks[213] 15 Leopard 2A4 tanks to be donated to the Czech Republic as partial replacement of T72 previously given by the Czech Republic to Ukraine / part of purchase of ~50 2A7+ Leopard tanks.[214][215] 20 to 25 Leopard 2 A4, ammunition and recovery vehicle(s) to be delivered to Poland as partial replacement for tanks given to Ukraine[216] 122 Marder 1A3 IFV and Lynx KF41 to be donated to Greece in return for an equal number of Greek BMP-1P IFVs to be passed to Ukraine.[217] €1.83 billion in bilateral aid since 2014[218][219] approx. €4 billion via the EU in the form of grants and loans since 2014.[218] €240 million via the EU in loans in 2022.[218] Loan of over €150 million via KfW in April 2022.[220] €425 million via the 'Stand Up For Ukraine' pledging campaign and an additional 70 million for medical aid via the EU[221] Over €1 billion additional military aid to Ukraine for weapons purchases in April 2022[222] Additional €1 billion pledged in the form of grants in May 2022[223] One mobile field hospital worth €5.3 million and associated training of medical staff in February 2022[224] Evacuating and treating wounded Ukrainian soldiers in Germany since 2014[225][226] Deutsche Bahn initiated a "railbridge" in March 2022 and began delivering over 10,000 tons of humanitarian aid[227][228] 50 Unimog medical transport vehicles[198][199] 14 pallets of medical supplies[229] 65 refrigerators for medical supplies[230] 1200 Hospital beds[230]
WoW GeMoney, Poland with less than a ¼ GDP compared to GerMoney, HAS send weapons worth more than 1,8 billion to Ukraine in 2022 ALONE. GerMoney talks what they WILL send some day & Poland what HAS been delivered. Germoney Blocked Ukraines request to BUY 100 PZH 2000 SINCE APRIL. 5million Ukrainian refugees are in Poland right now & we don't ORDER a quota system to Germoney, Like ur GOV did to Poland, after inviting millions of illegal migrants to Europe. This is not the time 2 act as if your GOV was on the support Train all along, infact your GOV is still blocking sanctions against Ruzzia proposed by Poland & Lithuania. We want you to stop Scholzing around & show some backbone! Deliver what Ukraine is asking about then we talk again son! In Poland we say Macron & Scholz are Serial- callers cuz the love to phone Putler so much. There is nothing more to talk about with the Kremlin, Ruzzian orks must unconditionally leave Ukranian soil, Donbas & Crimea bevore there will be any talks again. Poland guaranteed Ukraine, we will not accept any French or German apeasment deal involving Ruzzia. Poland will follow Ukraine & support you until Ruzzia seeks for a peace with UKRAINE in favor & only if Ukraine agrees. Cuz we see us as equal Partners & not Overlords, high time to take notes: France & GerMoney. But we are not alone in Europe, Czechia, Slovakia, Lithuania, Latvia & Estonia see things the same way & suppot more relatively to their GDP than any other country in the world. Ruzza "threatened" to nuke Warszawa & declared Poland asEnemy of Ruzzia No.1 after Ukraine & we Poles are very proud of that.
From France !! I agree with everything you said !!! I don't know why Macron hang on to Putin like this !! And he should have been in closer relation with central europe. But to add some nuance. I am not sure that the central European countries would have welcome French initiative. Poland remember that France declared war on Germany when they invaded and it changed nothing. They only want American support and I don't think they are interested with the like of France. Plus the current government is not really euro friendly and didn't have good relation with Brussels prior to the Ukrainian war. But I agree with you that the futur is not with Russia but Poland !! And, as a French the famous character that is brought up to illustrate French Polish closeness is Marie Curie. I didn't event know before this video that Chopin was buries in Paris (thank you for the information).
There wouldn't be bad realations if Brussles weren't pressing Poland in variuos ways like limiting the coal mines and the energy from that resource because it is not eco or nature friendly or other shit...I don't care about ecology if people would have later pay half of their wages for "fuel" to no freez in the winter. Or the accusations about the lack of rule of law in Poland and the "supposed" perseciution of judges by the current ruling party "PiS". Many of these "judges" have a communist past and were closely cooperating with the righfully past system. But the narration is that Poland is heavily opressing judges - you have so many places to care about violating human right is much bigger scale but you lock up on such a country like Poland describing it like some authoritarian opessive state and putting some stupid sanctions becasue of that. And about Hungary...for me Hungary isn't now a friend of Poland as the current leader is acting like some petty dictator trying to cooperate with ruZZia and accusing NATO of as much responsibility about this conflict as ruZZia. If Brussles wouldn't be pushing it's rules and restrictions on Poland for it wanting to fight for the best interests of it's people as any normale country does then there wouldn't be any lack of trust. And everyone know what countries are the "real" EU and who is really pulling the strings...it would be stupid to don't know.
I would love It if you, as other mentioned, talked a bit about Italy, but also about Spain: its honestly incredible how little Spain Is talked about despite how big they are, i can never really get more than a glimpse into Their stances on issues. In general, id like a Little more exploration of Southern Europe, not only of my own home, but of fellow Mediterranean countries too, even tho Greece has alredy been talked about at great lenght.
Gonna second this. Every now and then I forget Spain even exists, just because no one really talks about it. It's like when the world cup rolls around I'm like "oh yea, those guys are here too". It's kind of a shame considering how much they have contributed to the world. I think it's because their history in general is a bit convoluted and hard to summarize and TH-cam likes the catchy headlines.
Italy and Spain are certainly important coutries, and I would also be interested in an analysis. But fundamentally, they pale in comparison to european Great Powers like Germany, France, the UK, Russia, and maybe even rising Poland. They are not big geopolitical actors, they are demographically and economically declining, and though on a world-level they remain very rich countries, for the region they are in, they are not. The 2022 IMF GDP rankings put Canada ahead of Italy, even though Italy has 22 million more people. Canada's GDP is also an entire Switzerland larger than Spain (800 billion). And no one is claiming Canada is a Great Power... (though, it must be said, Canada does have a larger role in NATO operations than Italy and Spain do). All that being said, I do not believe Italy and Spain have the military or economic power to influence European geopolitics. Therefore, naturally, they are talked about less.
please don't get me wrong. Spain is big in size. But it's economy has several problems. So despite its size it lacks the strength that is seen with other countries. I believe the reason Greece is often talked about is simple. It's the European country that is for a long time in a conflict with Turkey. And back at European Economic crisis it was one of the countries that suffered the most. I'm also interested in more knowledge about my southern neighbors.
@@DavidCelestialKnight 😉I think Spain is as Germany an underachiever when it comes to NATO commitment. But I think I read once Spain also increased its military spending this year. And yes. The refugee crisis in Spain or better in all of southern Europe is a huge problem for the countries. I believe that we all should work more together with such problems. I believe that would also help to solve at least some of the economic problems of the southern European countries. And when the refugees become a problem that is acknowledged by all of the EU we can solve it way better together.
You. Are. Spot. On. I remember commenting on your channel on a previous video that the reason France was reluctant to go against Russia was due to pro American sentiment. I even sometimes defended France in some comments where you criticised it, but proceeded to delete them when macron said that "we must not humiliate Putin". This, was frankly the final straw, which made me not only despair about macrons foreign policy decisions, but most importantly despair about the lack of reaction from french people with regards to this. I am so glad you made this video and elaborated on this issue, as well as talking about the importance of Franco polish relations. I think non anglophone french people really need to watch this video, and realize that their anti Americanism is leading France's future power and influence straight to the bin.
And yet as an Estonian I must say I can't think of any better alternative to Macron in France either. I'm sure much of this is up to my own ignorance with regard to French politics and politicians but Le Pen is not someone I'd like to see come to power for an example.
This sentence from Macron has been vastly misunderstood internationally, however it was addressing a french public. In France and since a very young age, we're being taught that the main reason of WWII was because we humiliated Germany with the Traité de Versailles. Hence why the sentence, meaning: We're confident Ukraine will win, but let's not plant the seed of a much worst conflict in the future by stripping completely Russia. Russia, not Putin.
Autsch, as a german you get much heat on this channel 😅 Germany would never make an alliance with Russia, one party in the government, not the population or majority of Bundestag, but just the SPD have some problems with dropping russian business interests. I as an east german have actually closer cultural ties to Poland then France
Trust it's something you earn. Given that German response to the russian invasion is let's name it "gentle" ,certainly not up to German economy that's in heavy-weight league. Political leaders of Germany are somehow all from corrupted by Soviets DDR. Merkel,Sholts,Shreader... That's where Putin has spent his sweet KGB years . Are we suppose to believe they are all conspiracies and coincidents?
@@Texo333 I think he fails to differ between german population and politicians. The SPD was in the government either as a partner or as leader in power since the 2000s (with 4 years exception) and they had huge influence. What many people seem to forget is that in the 2008 NATO summit Bush forced Ukraine and Georgia to attend or they would have lost US support completely and at that time there was no majority for NATO in Ukraine which would have been necessary. One could argue Germany and France saved Ukraine from invasion in 2008, but it´s up for debate. Let´s take a look at the Minsk accord 2015/16. Actually at that point Ukraine was loosing the war against Russia and his proxies in the Donbass. We said, pls Proschenko don´t try to take them back by force it will fail and they will hate you even more and it will split the region for sure. Well he tried to conquer them back, but the ukrainian army at that time wasn´t ready and Russia heavily supported the Separatists including with artillery etc. so the ukrainian army was about to loose when the Misk accord was signed, actually Ukraine urged Germany to regociate this with russia to get a breathing pause, so we did. Of course neither Putin or Ukraine followed through with the agreement, but we did what Ukraine wished of us at that time and it gave Ukraine the opportunity to reform their army. You all can shit on Germany all you want, but you know it to be true if not check your archives. Yes we need to do more now, but not all was a mistake in the past...
@@lukasj19999 yes. here in the region most people donated something and its on the countryside. We send 15 trucks over there and donated a lot of money - which i think most Germans did. So of course there are people that dont care about ukraine here in Germany aswell but as much as i can tell the majority supports Ukraine and the people that can help by donating money or other stuff to ukraine did that. The gouvernment is a bit diffrent. Germany had a ban of weapons sales to nations at war or with a conflict. They changed that and are now sending Panzerhaupitzen 2000 or the MRLS Mars and other heavy equipment to Ukraine. While those weaponsystems are great and good they came too late and too few. Nevertheless, Germany made a 180° U turn in case of military aid. Also yes the chancellor still trys to slow down the weapons like the iris t anti air system. Also The FDP, Greens, and the CDU/CSU are all for a bigger support of Ukraine and they would make the majority in the Bundestag. Its just the SPD with their russian ties that stopps that a bit. The German economy relies on cheap russian gas or oil for it to be competitiv. Germany did a 180 turn in their policy and increased their support of ukraine. its sad that we are still portrayed as the bad guys really hurts because we as the people do a lot for ukraine.
Iam also from east germany, have even polish anestry (but now a french wife), i think also Poles like him couldnt explain you why alleged low support of germany to ukraine turns us evil and the same low amount of France into a potential ally, lacks logic. But if you read between the lines, Poland (or better to say the current government) regards itself in a competition with Germany and steers tensions towards us, we should learn form mistakes to russia (naivity) but also not repeat these mistakes now with other countries like Poland, they are intentionally negative towards us, no matter what we do
Why should France neglect the strategic partnership with Germany to "contain it's expansion", aligning itself with Poland? Germany has no appetite for expansion. Simply, it would just be irrational for France to oppose Germany.
I think it was more so in reference to past historic context. But as someone else said in response to a similar comment to yours, Germany is expansionist in(and beyond) EU in terms of economics. But I also must say that I do agree that refocusing and improving integration and relations with central Europe geopolitically doesn't really mean it has to come at the expense of partnership with Germany. It rather also has to bring Germany more into it and in alignment on this.
@@Megalomaniakaal if you read the description of this video, you can see that this opinion is rather based on personal emotions than geopolitical facts and realities. The video tries to proof this by overestimating the importance of historical events and cherry-picking. For example, How should France and Poland enter a strategic partnership with such different stances on EU policy? What about the relationship between Poland and Hungary before the full-scale invasion? etc. Their references to the past don't matter. If so, Germany and France would have a much worse relationship than now, for example.
@@f1fan3000 Eh. You're missing the forest for the trees, and kind of proving the video's point in the process. France is not a global power, nor will it ever be again. The EU is not a global power. Central Europe has far more trust in the US and the UK than it does in France and Germany. France needs to accept that it will only ever be a regional power at best, and that its interests obviously overlap with its western allies.
@@jeffmorris5802 the EU is absolutely a global power. It may not be a superpower but it’s still the second largest economy in the world (if you consider the du a single economy) and one of the largest exporters of technology.
Interesting video though I dont agree with everything. Abandoning the European security project that is the close cooperation of France and Germany in favour of old chessboard diplomacy within Europe sounds like a horrible idea. Also I would have liked if you said from whom the opinion piece was from at the start of the video. That way it would have been clear that this was more of a subjective analysis.
France complaining "Your militaristic! You sell weapons!" Also France. Incredibly irritated that more countries buy guns from America than from the French
Good video but I think you overestimate the historical importance when it comes to diplomacy. Even if France and Poland has been historicaly friends that doesn't mean that Germany can't be a better ally to Poland than France can. The most important factor isn't history, the most important thing is the government. One year you can have a government in France that is anti-poland, and another year you can have a government that is pro-poland.
Especially when several examples of France's failures towards Poland were left out, the best example being the failure of France to militarily support Poland during the German invasion where France backtracked on its promise to launch an offensive against Germany to take pressure off Poland (as well as the whole appeasement thing).
Germany as an ally? You've got to be kidding. They've proven they can not be relied upon, and that they will place the interests of multinationals above literally everything else.
@@Feeshermon I think it kinda touched the issues, just not highlighted them, when talkin bout du galls change of focus. That being said i cant ever think of a germany as ally to Poland, historically its always been terrible and even in current conflict they seem to be too tangled up with russia to be reliable
French diplomatic opposition towards American interests in Europe is baffling to a pretty fair degree, considering that there is nearly a 1 to 1 overlap in their strategic goals in the region. they both want a strong and prosperous Europe that can handle it's own affairs. furthermore is how one-sided the diplomatic animosity is, as the US has literally always viewed France as an invaluable, if not fussy, partner
It's more about national character. France still sees itself as a major world power. The irony is that for all the crap Brits get about supposedly being "nostalgic" for the days of the empire, it's actually France, not the UK, who wants to resurrect their imperial past.
French here, we consider the US as fussy partners too, enjoying going behind our backs to sell subs to the aussies, that they'll not have before 2040 at best
@@drhelmut3467 I would personally make the argument from the Australian perspective. where their strategic objectives changed in the time between signing and delivery. where at that point from their perspective, which partner's goals are more in line with theirs, the US who's goals are essentially a 1 to 1 match with their own, and so further cooperation yield much greater benefits than just equipment that better fits their new mission set. or France who would might offer a new contract, and maybe at very best be a passive partner. because a thing to remember that for as needlessly bullish as they see the US as being, most of the western world sees western Europe's diplomatic and strategic efforts as confused and counter productive
@@SteelinFlames1 Well, on at least one occasion, CaspianReport has basically stolen what others have written and created a video from it, without ever giving credit.
@@SteelinFlames1 Caspian Report also tends to have a right-wing editorial bias. Some might like it, but I think it turns people off. It turned me off for sure.
Which geopolitical/foreign policy/international relations/etc-type TH-cam/Twitter accounts are all of you following? I want to be more informed about the broader world beyond my heavy focus on CCP-China. The shifts happening now and over the coming years will ultimately revolve around the United States-China showdown. I want to learn more about the secondary players, especially in Mexico/Latin America, Europe (minus Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Hungary), India, the Middle East, the Indo-Pacific (minus Australia, Taiwan, Japan, the Koreas), Central Asia and Africa. edit: Most interested in those regions (which I realize is basically the rest of the world) and their relations with and reactions to 🇺🇸, 🇨🇳 & 🇷🇺 Thanks!
Caspian Report makes really good videos about geopolitics and Task & Purpose showcases the US’s relation to many different countries from a military perspective. Binkovs Battlegrounds also does some geopolitical analysis in his hypothetical conflict videos, which cover the most likely future wars in addition to more lighthearted scenarios.
As my eyes, (and as a French), I don't think that France see Russia as a partner since a while. Indeed, France has launch military trainings with Estonia and there is good ties with baltic States to maintain a strong frontier against the Russia. Furthermore, that not for nothing if they that much spying and intelligence issues between Russia and France. Another fact is the rivalry between Russia and France in Africa, and I invite you to see how the Wagner group are replacing France in Mali, just to do the same as in Central Africa (with Russian exploitation of mining fields). Even if I really love the polish people and culture, sadly, it seem that a friendship isn't an option when we look how the nationalist and governing parties talk about France, and with all the Europeans discussions that lead to strong opposition.
Ya its important to remember that the current polish goverment, for all its help to Ukraine and against Russia, is still a pretty right wing goverment, who is trying to overturn the courts, break EU rules, and is oppressing women with some of the harshest abortion laws in the world (which even Ukranian refugees have suffered for)
I will show you Polish perspective. Polish "bad" nationalist were called the same way Rus, are calling Ua now (censorship). Number of foreigners in PL is reaching 10% of our population. Do you see burning cars, on ours streets? Poland was protesting against NorthStream2. Did France supported this protest? Now somehow Germans cannot do more, cuz GAS, and they expect solidarity from others. Cheeky... Cuz more important for EU is their ideology expansion, than some pipe in a sea... I have bad opinion about Macron, and generally politics in France. If I will look in history, I see more reasons, to not like France, than like it. But I agree with this material. Our relations have potencial, as long, as France will not support Germany against Poland. BTW. Before the war I was reading french comment about bad USA wich do not want to leave Europe, just to be... I do not agree with this...
Yeah as a French I agree One more why we can't get along is the position to take towards Russia after the end of the Ukraine War Recently Darius Rochebin did an interview with Lech Walesa the former Polish syndicate leader He went on to say during the interview that Nato and the coalition led by the United States should reduce Russia to its European geography basically reducing Russia to a population of 60 million people That's not an acceptable outcome for Russia or even France or the EU because of the mess it could create Also the polish government and people seem to be going through the same feeling the French government went through towards Germany in the 1920's but it's a very self destructive bevahior In a way Poland is slowly transforming into what it hates without realising it this goes back to what You say about a nationalist government
This is a pretty good video with some details missing or let out. For starters it was the German empire during ww1 that revived the Polish and central European states from Russian rule. Secondly the term "from Lisabon to Vlodivostok" is not a core part of European or even French policy making but rather a phrase of optimism and potential of closer economic ties with Russia, this was said before the 2022 invasion, during that time Russia was becoming more economically tied with the west and was showing signs of modernisation, all of that progress has now pretty much been swept away, thus making the phrase useless. Third France has been most vocal of trying to tie both German and French national security and economic interests together, anyone who has studied European history knows that Europe destroyed itself because of wars and national interest conflicting with eachother, the primary goal of the EU and Franco-German alliance has been to centralize power and policy to act in a collective interest for Europe as a whole with mixed results, the question is will Europe fall apart again into minor spheres of influence? Or can they solidify into something stronger? While many say it can't there are some signs of cooporation and development on this front, sadly these processes take time and effort in a world that's suddenly changing very quickly and with big players who already cleared this phrase on easy mode, mostly the US, China, India and Russia to a less degree. There has to come a change in Europe, the question is from who and how, the USA can't be fully trusted, their loyalty only lies in how it benefits their national interest which is balanced by needing both a strong Europe but divided enough to not act against it's interests, despite their big military support for central Europe, it's in economic ties where long term interest of these nations lie, after Russian defeat the defence spending will drop and US interest will shift to other fronts, leaving only Germany and France to fill the void.
@@sleepete12 you mean to tell me that Poland, Ukraine, Lituania, Estonia, Latvia did not gain their spot back on the world map during ww1? Plz do tell me your understanding of history and share it with everyone else, I can't wait to be enlightened.
@@golagiswatchingyou2966 That's a good point to remember, Imperial Germany freed much of Eastern Europe from Russia, originally to be within their sphere of influence until they lost WW1 a year later.
@@golagiswatchingyou2966 It was the UK and Scandinavia that was helping the Baltics become independent. In truth neither the French or Germans had much to do with it, and Germany at the time even had some interest in getting Baltics for itself, via proxy of the Baltic Germans. But as Estonians and Latvians were kicking some serious Baltic German ass the support from Germany to the Baltic Germans dried up.
It sounds like France had long trying to define itself by what it isn’t (playing hands to emphasize it isn’t under US or UK sway) at the expense of smaller players, allies, and at times itself
@@privatesale211 the video wasnt focused on french history, but on france now, also Poland and France would make a really strong duo, both now and in history
Germans had the best engineers, the best artists, best philosophers, probably the best army, but also had the dumbest politicians and the dumbest spies. The tradition continues :) P.s the best soccer teams.
It is always interesting to get an insight into a particular rabbit hole, in this case a decidedly anti-German one. I accept that certain people have a very critical view of Germany, but that does not change the fact that some of the statements in the video are ridiculous. One of the core statements of the video is that France should "become independent from Germany again". This is justified with a speech by de Gaulle from the early 1920s. Are they serious? The geopolitical situation between France and Germany today is not remotely comparable to the situation 100 years ago. The rhetoric of Germany and France as hereditary enemies has been obsolete for almost 75 years... If the author of the video really held a rudimentarily realistic and not purely anti-German position, then he would have to acknowledge that France has to work closely with Germany. But well, having studied the channel and the author of the video a little, I am hardly surprised at his positions. He also colourfully talks on Twitter about the dissolution of Germany... Always funny to see that ideologically some are still living 100 years ago.
I think the biggest problem with this channel is that the author was so desperate to copy the formula of Caspian Report, he didn't stop to consider what made the CR appeal to be as wide as it is, which is the pretence of impartiality. No, Shivram isn't unbiased at all, his soft spot for his native Azerbaijan and Turkey is very apparent, but still the guy does his damnest to come off as neutral as it gets. This here never should have been released in English, because it's very clearly Polonocentric, arguments that are presented as objective truths may even well be so... but only in Poland. In Poland, pretty much everybody regardless of political affiliation considers France and Germany way too cozy with Putin (so much so the pro-opposition media tend to be very careful in their criticism of the two countries' position towards Russia in order not to automatically fall into rabid German-hating rants the leader of the incumbent populists is notorious for), so when uttered in Polish, the phrase "it only makes sense for France to ditch Russia in favor of Poland" sounds rather straight, but when translated into English, the international language, it provokes a very understandable "Why?".
Is a Czech person I have different view. France has proven itself historically as a very unreliable partner. Together with the UK they've thrown us overboard in 1939 to maintain "peace " with Germany. Tandem Germany - France will always prefer good relations with Russia to good relations with central Europe, because it's their material base. (France also has Africa). France and Germany are also the biggest source of European bureaucracy which is crippling our economy. Central Europe has to co-operate militarily with the USA, they are the only true strategic partner, our geopolitical interests align. France is a country still stuck in their colonial past when French was diplomatic language number one. But these times are long gone. France is still strong power but definitely not superpower. They need to adjust their policy to reality.
@@flussigeswasser251 How could I not? Germany has been under funding it's military for far too long and ill-engineering economic and energy security ties with Russia for far too long. Sure I can agree with the concept that economic ties with Russia can curb conflict and potentially build peace. But only if Germany actually retains some leverage in that situation. Instead Germany just gave the entire leverage in that relationship to Russia and put some blinds on so as not to see where it was all going.🤦♂
@@Megalomaniakaal sure these are or were issues. The Military got a 100 Billion euro boost and the nato 2% spending target will be full filled in the future. Btw is Germany one of the biggest military operator on the nato east front, besides USA. The energy issue is indeed a problem, but Germany isn’t the only victim, nearly the complete east of Europe is dependent on Russian gas, including Poland, Estonia, Latvia etc. Besides these facts and figures, my main problem was how Germany is pictured as a enemy, that the French have to engage. I mean wtf, we ain’t no more in 1945. We should work together instead of thinking imperialistic.
@@flussigeswasser251 _"Military got a 100 Billion euro boost"_ A one time thing that solves very little if indeed anything at all, since Germany has a bigger problem than just funding: procurement. I.e. how it goes about acquiring things with the allotted money. _"The energy issue is indeed a problem, but Germany isn’t the only victim, nearly the complete east of Europe is dependent on Russian gas, including Poland, Estonia, Latvia etc."_ Certainly, but no one of these others influence EU/Nato military or economic security by far as much yet(Poland will increasingly though for sure), and you might be overestimating just how dependent on gas some of these states are. Estonia for an example is certainly dependent on Russian gas still(with no real alternative yet, tho there are some plans w.r.t. this), but also mostly relies on gas for things it can't really find alternatives for such as industrial use. We don't really heat our homes or fuel our stoves with natural gas. There are some households that do, but they are marginal. Electricity has traditionally been from coal and oil shale not gas precisely for security reasons with wind getting ever increasing investments. I do wish the older populations would get smarter about nuclear, so they wouldn't be so irrationally afraid of it. Coal and oil shale use do need to end.
I think France isn't very interested in central european affairs as it see that 50% of the world GDP will be made in asia by 2030. And France has 2 million citizens in the indo-pacific, therefore projecting power and making alliance towards India and Indonesia is much more important than working its relations with Poland and other central european contries.
All you say is true up until last february. Now if Russia decides to threaten the whole security of Europe. We, France, have to change our objectives. I'm more reluctant about the current Polish government which is openly friendly with the french far right, anti EU and anti Nato. This is a big red flag for a better partnership between our nations. But we may have to do both, alliance with India and Indonesia to counter China and a stronger partnership with Poland and others central european countries to counter Russian expansionism. The Russian agression changed the whole situation 6 months ago.
@@flavienrousselin3734 Russia doesn't have the military might to threaten the European union. They are already struggling against Ukraine which isn't a powerful army so this is not tomorrow that they will march on Warsaw and Berlin you can sleep tight. ;)
@@tonyhawk94 True, their military is trash and heavily corrupt but I'm more anxious about their economic weapons. This all gas blackmail might be enough to attack us. If our economy go down our resolution to support Ukraine might go down as well. Russian people can support heavy sanctions and political oppression, they are used to it, not us... Russia might undermine European security, not militarily but economically... Which is still powerful enough to worry us.
50% of world’s gdp but not France”s. What you said sounds like “Rule Britannia” but French version, and, as the former chief of MI5 or 6 just said in an interview, this is ludicrous. We are not in 19th century anymore, there are cities in China with almost as many citizens the entire country of France has.
@@DerDop You didn't understand what i said. Nations go where the growth is, not in a colonial fashion but simply to trade where there is money. The closer you are to the centers of economic dynamic the best it is, just like the US has redevloped more westward now while the east is now the rustbelt.
Why did the US save millions of Europeans, especially poles and Russians from starvation during and after ww1? What US interest did it serve to keep half of Europe from starving multiple times in the first half of the 20th century?
France can prove its a great power by winning the competition between the United States and South Korea in building new nuclear power plants in Poland and actually following through without wasting time and money, than Poland is significantly more independent from Russia and Germany which is what you want as France since Poland is the natural ally, you can extend this to other EU countries and build influence and increase trade, Europe will no longer rely on Ruzzian energy and be more sovereign.
Agree but the closest ally of France is Germany, not Poland. Yes, we need to become energy independent from Russia and focus on further tying down the EU. But I also don't see why France would want to diminish dependencies between Poland and Germany.
@@ukaszkowalski725 I consider Czechia and Slovakia to be the same entities during Czechoslovakia. Even if I didnt, I would still put them bellow Romania probably, Romania was always there for us during modern history
@@flavienrousselin3734 Looking back at it, it would probably be smart to fight Hitler in 1938 but I do understand that France didn't want to lose another generation to the G*rmans.
I love this channel and this is a good video. Unfortunately for Poland, France will always be the #2 industrial power (behind Germany) and the #2 natural resource provider (behind Russia) in Europe. France can try to use Poland to leverage their strength against Russia and/or Germany, but due to demographics and geography France and Poland will always have to give in to the will of either the USA/UK alliance, Germany, or Russia and neither will ever be in the driver's seat or have full control of their own geopolitical futures. In all honesty, the moment the USA stops providing security for Europe is the day Poland's future will be decided by either Germany or Russia. Poland will never have the population, resources, or geography to determine its own future and will be a chess piece for other nations until well past our lifetimes. Poland should do everything it can to tie itself to the USA, EU, France, then Germany in that order, because without significant security guarantees from the aforementioned players Russia will gobble up Poland for its own security needs. Ukraine is bleeding Russia as we speak, but that's only because the USA and others are pumping in billions of dollars worth of military technology, training, intelligence, etc. while also sanctioning the crap out of Russia. Poland would be much the same story. Even if France went all in they lack the military and industrial capacity to prop up Poland or Ukraine against Russia by themselves and would need either the USA or Germany to do the heavy lifting.
Poland has just ordered 360 Abrams Sepv3, currently orders 1000 k2pl with production in Poland, 500 himarsów, 1500 bvp badger, about 500 redback pl, k9 howitzers 650 pieces, 150 crabs, thousands of drones, satellite reconnaissance, has 250 leopards upgraded to a2pl standard, ordered from 32 f35, 45 f50 block 20 planes, has 1000 wolverines, crayfish and weapon systems. Poland does a lot, buying systems such as Wisła with patryjots, Wisła and pilica systems. A lot is being invested in the army, together with Sweden and Finland, Poland will soon be able to stop Russia in a conventional war.Considering only the tanks themselves, Poland is to have more than Germany, France and the UK combined, and these are the two best tanks in the world today, maybe even a Merkava ... Nobody in Poland wants war, we know what it is leading behind, but you cannot count on peace at any cost ... interesting times are coming, may humanity come to its senses ... Poland knows what it means to be under the foot of the Soviets, Poland must be strong or it won't be there at all.
I really dont get it that u see Germany as a rival. We despite or past where Germany did a lot of bad things to poland and poland taking Germany Land in return we are now on the same Page. Yes there are some different ideas and the focus is diffrent but we all try to archive the same. The German-polish trade is at an al time high. Also we needed cheap russian ressources to give our industry a chance to compete with China, USA and Japan. Without cheap russian Gas, oil, metal or ither stuff our economy would get less competetiv. Yes we should not focus all on russia and distribute it so we cant geg blackmailed by russia like we do right now with Gas but we need russia as a traiding Partner. So i see Germany, France and Poland on the same Page but with small diffrent ideas.
@@Texo333 I personally like Germans and fully believe that we are true allies and friends today, HOWEVER Germans always point to WW2, when In fact Poles and Germans have been at odds with each other since the medieval times, we are somewhat natural enemies and so there will always be at least some distrust, doesn’t help that Germans are extremely arrogant and yes that includes todays Germans.
What a bleary and misleading video. Starting with the fact that century-old ideas and policies are mapped to current-day politics without any regard to all the progress that has occurred since then, to glossing over large swathes of history and cherry-picking facts that are supportive of your hypothesis. Even taking all your statements at face value, it would still make no sense for France to undermine its current closest ally and biggest trade partner, especially since France is the primary driver in a push for a more united Europe. All in all this video sounds more like a bitter pole that would like to see Germany suffer rather than someone presenting a case in favour of a stronger France.
While I agree with the idea that France needs to ally Central European states to balance out the UK-US alliance, I don't see how Poland is a natural ally for them. And if I were France I would prioritize Western European connections, like Spain and Italy
Because Poland puts a wedge between Germany and Russia which together annihilate France Influance-wise (Poland jurisdiction-wise) as history shows. With strong Poland Germany needs to play nice with other "Western kids", which leaves Russia isolated. This enhances France's position in comparison. Poland is a loyal friend - just wants to be secure (Russo - german Alliance has always been the biggest detriment for that, so Poland will always pick France over Germany) . We would have no qualms with realising Frances political projects. Question is, what exactly are those. They keep conjuring up mirages of a unified european security structure (with France in the leading role). One wonders how they intend to achieve that, when alone they are the weakest of the 3 continental players and they refuse to sufficiently prop up prospects beneficial for them. I guess milking Africa and spewing empty words is good enough.
Sad that the politics of the French have let to many disasters we could have prevented, we could have been the strongest in europe together, but anyways I still love yall I know you meant well
Poland and Eastern Europe might have secured a stronger alliance with Paris by purchasing a few french weapons or by strengthening security bilateral ties in Sahel or in general. France's biggest challenges are located south in the Mediterranean sea and in Africa. Russia is often a rival there (in Mali or Centrafrica) but sometimes also a partner (Lybia, Egypt, Greece).
Let me give a French opinion here: You make good points and the the connection of present to past French diplomacy is great to see but I have to bring some criticism. The foreign policy you're describing is called "La Petite Entente" where French must unite Central Europe against the common threat that is Germany. It is true that it failed because anti-war sentiment was too high in France and we failed to protect countries like Czekoslovakia or Poland by comitting ourselves seriously. I lived with Polish people during years and I know some resent France for that betrayal. But it would have never worked and i'm mostly gonna rely on a book on the treaty of Versailles. It's a book a French historian and Royalist Jacques Bainville wrote as a response to Keynes book "The Economic Consequences of Peace" that he called "The Political Consequences of Peace". If you like prophecy, the exact events from 36 to 39 were described in 1919 by Bainville. Just like Keynes, he considered the Treaty of Versailles as terrible and told that the war would be back in 20 years. The main point of Bainville is that if the German unite, there is no power that can stop them on the European plains, keeping Germany intact politicaly keeps it a the main power of Central Europe and spreading German speaking people on other countries just give them the necessary casus belli to invade. Bainville stressed that the full might of Central Europe was not enough and especially Poland. He stressed that allying with Poland will just bring us into the war without Poland bringing anything except a few weeks of delay. It only works if Germany is divided according to Bainville and that is the true spirit behind the treaty of Westphalia where the balance of power was at the center. Long gone is the Polish-Lituanian Commonwealth, Central Europe is not a possible counterweight for Germany, it is German's playground, vassal states to its economic power. As De Gaulle did with Russia, maybe we should ally with China if only they could be trusted. I'm at loss for what should be done for France but the return of The Little Entente view is not the way according to me. Maybe a Latin group with Spain and Italy is interesting.
Ah yes, fear that Central Europe would become too much independent and economical power house. It reminds me of 1939. The only reason why France isn't collapsed state are those African colonies. France is like tank with back mirror...good at driving backwards and occasionally stabbing some allies on the way.
Or you could ally with Germany? Sorta like you already do? Kind of a simple solution, don't you think? I don't understand why you go through all these philosophical lengths to float a potential alliance with China without first justifying the need to counterbalance Germany in the first place. They seem not to be doing much of anything these days.
Nie rozumiem " sprzymierzenie się z polską tylko sprowadzi wojnę". Ona i tak była nieunikniona, gdybyśmy zaatakowali Niemcy pierwsi albo chociaż Francja i Wielka Brytania pomogły Polsce w 1939 to 2 wojny światowej by nie bylo.
@@angry6254 Sadly there was no political will nor military doctrine efforts to push for an offensive in 1939. Would have been even better to prevent Rhenany remilitarization of 36 but same England and France prefered to preserve peace at all cost as they were incapable of understanding Hitler and they wre even less prepared at that time.
Baltic States are located in Northern Europe. Stop grouping us with Eastern / Central Europe. Sources: UNESCO, EuroVoc, Committee for International Cooperation in National Research in Demography, The STW Thesaurus for Economics
We (Poles) know the pain, being by geography in central Europe, still often considered to be "Eastern" A lot of people still refers to past division (western-free Europe-Warsaw Pact countries/Soviet) . Every time I hear it I cry a little, we don't wanna be by any means associated with barbaric Moscovians. And I also quietly laugh thinking of all my north-American friends still listing Czechoslovakia among EU countries XD
Why do you refer to Comonwealth as Poland? Comonwealth was multiethnic state, where multiethnic Lithuanian state was also an important part. Also in Your refered European region, Poland is only one of many states. But yes, with current situation in Germany, France and Russia countries in region will naturally cooperate more with other like-minded countries, who do not compromise their sovereignty, security and growing prosperity.
The official name of Poland today is the *Third Commonwealth/Republic of Poland (III Rzeczpospolita Polska* in Polish; Res Publica in Latin = Republic aka Commonwealth in English).
In the context of Ukraine, it is worth pointing out that the Franco-Polish alliance resulted in the destruction of the West Ukrainian People's Republic, when Haller's Blue Army, equipped by the French with modern military equipment and led by French officers attacked the Ukrainian Galician Army, after the Chorkiv offensive. Only unity among the nations of Eastern Europe will be conducive to autonomy of action for the Poles, Ukrainians, and others. Relations with other powers, especially France and Germany, and to a lesser extent the UK and the US are best approached from a position of Eastern European strength and unity. Brussels, Paris, and Berlin can be unreliable partners, and only when Eastern Europe assures them that they cannot afford to fail to take Eastern interests to heart, will European politics and geopolitics respect Eastern and Central Europe.
@@biodidu25 The favor was repaid in WWI. Then your political leaders forced the worst peace arrangement in modern European history and set the stage for a second war. France collapsed completely that time, and De Gaulle thanks the allies by riding into Paris on an American tank, and then delivering a speech claiming, and I’m directly quoting him, “France has liberated herself”. Then France milks the US for Marshall plan money, and lets not forget the bailout of the Franc in the 1950s, our assisting your colonial holding in Vietnam and then pulling out the second after we show up to help… but do go on about the founding of the US as if it wasn’t in your own interests to swipe at the UK after losing Canada just a few decades prior. Unlike any other nation with as long a history, France has a long memory for the debts owed to them, but no memory of its own debt to others.
@@biodidu25 Let’s review basic WWI history: Russia exited early because a revolution broke out. That revolution broke out because the Russian war effort was a complete disaster, one of many following the previous disaster of the Ruso-Japanese war. So how them leaving before the war ended, giving Germany more troops for the Western front, contributed to France’s liberation is an interesting spin. Are they teaching that at Sciences Po now? As for France and the UK, you were at stalemate, fighting for a few miles at a time at most, and you weren’t taking it to the Germans, you were fighting mostly in your own territory, not Germany. You don’t see significant gains until the US arrived in the final years and supplied the needed personnel and materials to force Germany to the treaty table. To ignore the issues with the treaty assumes Hitler came out of thin air. Why do you think the Germans wanted to annex land? It was taken from them after WWI. Why did Austria want to join Germany? Because their empire was demolished by the treaty and they were left with no identity. France inserted the clause to force the Hapsburgs to step down, something many Austrians are still a bit upset about today I might add. Two long-standing enemies of French imperialism were targeted, and you don’t think that upset anyone? The whole war was just to kill Jews? No, of course they responded in kind. You want to know a major reason why this didn’t happen again after WWII? The US Marshall plan forced the Europeans to have to work together and agree to how the aid would be divided or no one would get anything. This eventually led to the EEC, which was the predecessor of the EU. As for Russia’s part in WWII. Yes, they sure sacrificed a lot of people, but lend-lease gave them materials needed to actually start the counter-offensive instead of holding the line. I don’t discount the UK and Canada’s part in the Western campaign either, but to pretend that overshadowed US efforts is petty. And if that were all, maybe you would have a point. But considering France still owes the US, under treaty, sizeable amounts of money from loans and bailouts covering economic downturns long after WWII, debts you don’t even have the curtesy to pay interest on, yes, we expect more from France. But again, let’s look outward to see the other messes France has made for others to clean up and suffer the consequences. Moving into more recent history, past US presidents even tried to let France take the lead. How did that work out in Bosnia as your troops let the serb militias massacre those children? The people in Sarajevo didn’t seem to care much for the “peacekeeping” forces you sent, who watched as mortar after mortar fell on their city. Maybe we should look at Libya? Why did we overthrow that regime? France had an ax to grind and left Italy, Malta, Spain and Greece to deal with the aftermath of instability. Or maybe France could get Saddam to stop from threatening to invade Kuwait? That didn’t work. Or maybe help Lebanon rebuild after years of instability? Ah yes, I remember the boos and chants of the crowd as Macron arrived in Beruit a few years ago. Oh, and we can’t forget West Africa. How is Mali doing these days? Didn’t France push out all the terrorists? Or did it go in, get bored, and leave it to collapse again? The African Union has complained so. In fact, some would say France’s abrupt pull out destabilized the entirety of sub-saharan africa, which has led to multiple coups across the continent. What about Macron’s ability to get Russia to stop its war in Ukraine? We could even talk about why the EU’s common defense goals keep failing due to French intransigence about who gets to build to planes and who gets the subsidies. Or the common agricultural policy also happens to help France more than nations that actually desperately need aid like Croatia, Romania or Bulgaria. And I could continue to talk about your colonial holdings in the South Pacific wanting to leave so France will stop milking them of their mineral wealth, but this post is long enough, although you didn’t have a response about Saipan or the Franc bailout… See, it isn’t just France’s neighbors and the US that take issue with people like De Gaulle who would ruin a treaty if France doesn’t get its way on every point, or would leave their allies the second it becomes slightly inconvenient, it’s the broader global community. France has a long memory of the good things it has done, but none memory of its debts. While no nation is perfect, France is unique in that I have yet to hear a French President take responsibility for anything negative. Hitler shows up? Ah those Germans were all fascist jew haters anyway (let’s hope no one remembers the Dreyfus affair). Algeria wants independence? Must be those Americans undermining our empire with the CIA! Saipan wants independence too? We’ll threaten to unalign ourselves with the West if the US doesn’t send troops. If it doesn’t work out, we’ll say it was an American war. It’s not France’s protectionism that is sucking money out of the EU’s CAP program, those Bulgarians are just being bitter!
The only reason Germany needs a counter-weight in Europa is french pride. I think Germany understands very well that without it there is no EU, led alone by the geographical point of view. And therefore has taken the role of the mediator between all interests.
Great video. De Gaul was really on point. Here's hoping Fance wakes up... Though I imagine it will take more than a few op eds to change their minds unfortunately. Kudos! More like this.
I live in France and my Geopolitics teacher told me that every social change moves happens very slow. For exemple it is still a big taboo to talk about the Algerian War of Independence; giving citizenship to arab soldiers that fought for free france in WW2 or Dreyfus Incident, the latter started being tought at school no so long ago. Even criticizing the army or President is Constitutionally illegal amd morally wrong in France, as you will probably get cenzored and the public outcry will end your life.
@@cristianbalan518 how is that taboo when you hear about these subjects constantly ? watch TV. in France you are free to criticise anything and anyone and nothing will happen to you so please dont come here to spit lies.
@@privatesale211 I have a friend that stidies law in France and her teacher told her she should write anything bad about the president in her write works. So in legal documents by specialists, not press my friend, you shall say nothing bad about Macron.
@@cristianbalan518 oh you have a friend.....thats a very convincing argument. that teacher is just a macron supporter thats it. there are numerous books, TV shows etc that speak badly of the president, there is no law against that
France never had any attachment to Poland. Poles should know this. Poland serves an important geographic location that acts in favor to the french interest. France wouldn't do shit if tomorrow Poland get *Poland* by its neighbors. Those French investments and deals are only to benefit the French companies and businesses not to help the Poles. France is only using Poland to aggravate Germany and Russia, for its own power and importance in the European affairs. French would only feel sorry for the fallen Polish state, *French interest at the expense of Poland, Sad Polandball*
It's not the 1930's anymore, if even a russian shrapnel land in polish territory i can assure you France will not back down. Our doctrine as completely changed after DeGaulle, what you should be worried about is your country buying sh*tty American plane instead of any grippen rafale eurofigter or even do your own plane, poland as so much potential, and the more your country will buy to the us, the less it will be able to be capable itself
I assure you, if France or Germany were as influential as this video purports, the war in Europe would have already ended. I think it's cute that Macron thinks he and France has agency on where geopolitics is moving.
@@ni9274 Influential... how? You think they have say in the war stopping? The war continuing? It's been humiliating watching the Germans flail. We expected them to be leaders. And the French? On the one hand they only barely didn't elect that sociopath Marine Le Pen, on the other they picked Macron. What good he's been.
@@drhelmut3467 No, of course not. It's good. The problem is what comes before and after. Let's put it this way; no matter how this war ends, it's clear what regard Ukrainians will hold the French and Germans.
Une approche particulière de la diplomatie Française malheureusement biaisée. La France à travers la construction Européenne à choisi son principal partenaire, l'Allemagne. Si on peut imaginer que l'Europe est un prétexte permettant à la France d'avoir un certain contrôle sur les autres pays européens, pourquoi ne pas se rendre compte que les États-Unis font de même au travers de leurs soutiens militaires ? (= vente matériel = plus de contrôle sur chaque pays fournis. Aucun pays ne fait les choses gratuitement et certainement pas les États-Unis, qui restent de grands alliés de la France, malgré plusieurs coups de couteau dans le dos (cf sous-marin Australiens).
I m french and I strongly disagree on your opinion that the Villepin discours in 2003 on the non intervention in the irak war is not a example of franco-arab ties but it s the showcase of the excellence of French intelligence agencies who new that Irak didn't have weapon of mass destruction WMD , and new that Colin Powell was a liar. I will admit that France is strongly invested in arab relation, and I m not really fan of that. ( I m a strong supporter of Israel ) a better example could have been Sarkozy who invite Kadhafi in Paris. But 2003 Irak was a terrible decision who turn arab world against Nato , Powell and Bush should be in jail for me it s war crime If your are against Russian invasion in 2022 you should also be against 2003 US coalition invasion Both brandish false WMD accusation for starting the war. Bush said that Irak was supporting of Al-Qaïda and it was a lie Poutine say that Ukraine is a Nazi state , also a lie 2003 was the start of the failure on GWOT ( global war on terror ). Do your lesson please, I love your work but keep your shoes straight , no double standard
Intereting point. What are your views on the supposed failure of French Intelligence with regards to the start of the Ukrainian-Russian conflict? What changed over this time?
@@charliemelly6723 certainly France had facilities to devellop human intelligence and growing a network of assets thanks to the connection with Libanon marroco algeria tunisia ... and helped by all the financial connexion I m not an expert but this is my guess
Is it similar to some US people thinking everything south of them is "Latin America" (or worse, south America) and that we "latins" (I'm Colombian) are all the same, ignoring all other geo and cultural distinctions?
Depends on your definition. You can horizontally divide Europe in two ways: one way is west/central/east, the other is west/east. I for example used to think that Austria is Western Europe and Czech Republic Eastern Europe. Looking at where Vienna and Prague are situated, this makes no sense. We often have our brains wired in terms of the old 'Eastern Bloc' and 'Western Europe'. Geographically, I nowadays use the term Eastern Europe for countries like Romania and Ukraine, while Czech Republic solidly lies in Central Europe, as does Austria, by the way
@@Adriano70911 Poland is a small and not a totalitarian country gave enough big budget to invest only in it's equipment. Buying equipment is cheaper than funding some projects that would last many years and the polish politics about funding is utterly horrendous. But that's what you get in the post communist country with the elites that are still squabling over power and throwing out to the bin every project that or dramatically different hampering the funds for R&D to give money to the people as the good populists do and to cement their popularity and influence.
How could ex-communist countries from Eastern Europe agree and support France when we clearly see that Russia holds France by the jewels and that almost half of the french people have ultra-nationalistic/communist views? At least Germany's pleasing policy towards Russia is fueled by its energy dependence, unlike France's which is fueled by the society.
I have to say even though I do not agrre with everythinng this report said It was rather prophetic concerning the potential revolution mentionned at the end Especially now with all the mass protests of millions of Frenchman in the steets throughout France😅😅😅
If france wants to engage with central europe, it needs to continue to improve its english proficiency, which is the closest thing the region has to a common language and is a key advantage that germany and the united states has in the region. It should throw it's weight behind romania and bulgaria joining shengen. The rhine danube corridor is frances best way to gain economic influence in the panonian basin, the black sea and ukraine, that is not dependent on turkish good will. Trans carpathian infrastructure needs to be kicked into high gear, because if europe doesn't build it then china will and will attempt to favor it's own exports in the region to the detrement of the european peoples.
Oh, interesting to see France is as bad on the Russia problem as Germany is. Germany also has a former head of government as a Russian oligarchy board member 😅
@@drhelmut3467 Don't mistake me, French People, Language, Culture and Cuisine are peerless and will always have a place in my heart. That said, the Government of France, that is the French State, has always had bigger ideas than it has had capability in execution.
So, this video is about the French fear of loosing importance about world politics. It is right. France can't challenge China and neither the USA. Neither can Britain or Germany. But I think you are wrong at your conclusion. France isn't getting weaker by committing itself more to the European idea. Within Europe France is getting stronger than what it ever can be alone. Now since Britain left the EU Frances importance and power has become stronger and without the opposing British political ideas France and the other European countries don't have to make all these compromises for the Anglicans. France is one of the strongest partners in the EU and in the NATO. And since the European Union and it's predecessors formed the thread for another useless war between Germany and France is down. Poland that was a strong ally for France is questionable as an ally at all. As you said it went into Irak with the USA for its self interest for US money. And today Polands political leadership is on a course out of the European Idea and it lost over the last years many ideas it shared with France. Where Poland is going now as an ally is hard to say as the Ukraine war might be a deciding moment for further Polish commitment either in the EU or if it starts to rely stronger on the USA. If Poland turns away from the EU it also turns away from France as I believe for Poland the most important issue is the help from Russian aggression. Right now for Ukraine but also in the process to get back what Poland quickly shared with their neighbors. I see Poland right now a bit as an indicator if we can keep the EU together or if it will split up. I don't know that much about Frances commitment towards Polish security interests. But what I know is Germans are too small that Poland feels heard from the EU. And Germany and France are two countries with many similarities who are also the leading countries in the European Union.
@@barbariandude dont spread fake information like that, nobody listened to that "why die for danzig" nazi bullshit, France spend the next 5 years being occupied BECAUSE it was willing to die for polish Gdansk.
@@SchusT45 starting with the elected french king, who fled the throne the minute he could get the french one, other examples are mentioned in the video
As a French passionate about History and especially Napoleonic Era, i totally agree on the fact that poland is the oldest and greatest ally in Europe. Poland needs to be strong and we need to help each other. BUT, the European Union is a system that profits mainly to Germany, EU politics threatens our agriculture, our finances, it doesnt allow us to expel Foreign terrorists, criminals and murderers or even expel illegal immigrants. The EU ideologists wants to promote multiculturalism and the Islamisation of Europe, thats why we stand against EU, this politic system prevent us from applying our OWN law, on on our OWN territory. I think Europe needs a greater leadership and strong/happy/wealthy Eastern Europeans, becaause we all belong to the same civilisation and need to help each other in this century that is gonna be very tough.
@@ni9274 didnt you see propaganda Images from the EU showing woman wearing Hijab ? Why EU doesn't make laws to prevent mass immigration from Islamic States ? Why EU doesn't allow us to expel or execute Terrorists that kill people by saying: "Allahu Akbar" Why the EU allow so much Mosque to be built?
@@jensboettiger5286 ...so now they are your enemy? I have no idea how the EU stays together. Y'all are such a basket of snakes, still hung up on your petty little squabbles.
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Oh prefect timing! I was just looking at what to watch on youtube : ]]
Dude bring back that creepy synth music you used to play around the time when russia invaded. That music is dope AF.
I m french and I strongly disagree on your opinion that the Villepin discours in 2003 on the non intervention in the irak war is not a example of franco-arab ties but it s the showcase of the excellence of French intelligence agencies who new that Irak didn't have weapon of mass destruction WMD , and new that Colin Powell was a liar.
I will admit that France is strongly invested in arab relation, and I m not really fan of that. ( I m a strong supporter of Israel ) a better example could have been Sarkozy who invite Kadhafi in Paris.
But 2003 Irak was a terrible decision who turn arab world against Nato ,
Powell and Bush should be in jail for me it s war crime
If your are against Russian invasion in 2022 you should also be against 2003 US coalition invasion
Both brandish false WMD accusation for starting the war.
Bush said that Irak was supporting of Al-Qaïda and it was a lie
Poutine say that Ukraine is a Nazi state , also a lie
2003 was the start of the failure on GWOT ( global war on terror ).
Do your lesson please, I love your work but keep your shoes straight , no double standard
Masterworks is a scam
Alignment with Masterworks makes you less credible.
13:51 On the topic of the friendliness of central Europe to the US, I have this to say as a Romanian: we don't trust western Europe to back us if things go down a dark path. As a small country, we need a powerful guarantor. The US, despite some bumps along the way, has kept its word in every situation that mattered. If the US makes a deal with you, it keeps it (EDIT: Most recent example is them sending huge numbers of additional troops to eastern Europe at the request of the Bucharest Nine, led by Poland and Romania). This is important for soft power projection (that is, countries willingly doing what you want).
France and Germany do not inspire nearly as much confidence. Hypothetically, if there was no NATO, just the EU mutual defence guarantees, a Russian invasion would be followed by Germany and France trying to get Russia to the negotiating table while more and more Romanians bleed. There is no faith here in any kind of reliable defence from western Europe. If Germany and/or France proves itself a strong, pro-active guarantor of sovereignty, then we can start talking. Until then, we'll continue relying on the US, and contribute to NATO (including bleeding for US invasions) as that makes us safe.
You hit the nail on the head. This is the case with other Central / Eastern countries as well: Slovakia, Bulgaria.
As an American I’d like to say that you’re opinion is both refreshing and realistic. America as a whole gets a lot of flack(some justified some not) from people criticizing our interventionist policies and what’s seen as some form of new colonialism. We’ve certainly made mistakes, but if it weren’t for the U.S basically keeping most of if not all major wars and conflicts from breaking out over the last 70 years while simultaneously guaranteeing the safe transport and shipping of goods for free all over the world, then world would be a much more dangerous, poor, and hungry place. Hell just look at what’s going on from Russia invading Ukraine. Economies are in recession all over the world, energy prices are skyrocketing and we’re at risk of a massive global famine which by the way, only hasn’t happened yet because we’re still eating last years harvest.
As a Canadian I just wanna say we’d be right there with you. We may not be the strongest nation but if you take a look at our record, when a friend needs help we’re there!
Most recently we’ve seen despite our smaller population Canadians have been one of the largest groups to volunteer in Ukraine. If our NATO ally needs us we’ll be there with everything we got 🇨🇦❤️🇷🇴
Yeah i think the current war in Ukraine and how the West responded is a clear indicator of who can actually be trusted. I'm from the UK, but we have offered assistance to Eastern Europe before and during this crisis. When Poland had immigrants rushing over the border from Belarus, we actually sent aid to help control the situation. We have troops stationed in the Baltic States at all times too and that number is likely to increase. Same with Ukraine, we sent tons of weapons and supplies at our own army's expense and have been training 10's of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers, many of which are over here right now training safely in the UK. The US has really stepped up, though it could be argued they could do more, they have done far more than any other nation to support Ukraine.
Germany and France on the other hand have shown their true colours, that they have no intention of helping anyone out at their own expense. France has always just served its own interests under the guise of acting in the interests of the EU. But what they really want is for business to go back to the way things were before, regardless of the cost to Ukraine. Macron embarrassed himself by constantly trying to mediate to Putin acting like his friend, only for Putin to go against everything they had discussed mere weeks later. It was just a political tool for Macron to try look strong to the French people but actually did nothing to help the situation whatsoever. Germany, and Trump actually pointed this out, on one hand talks about Russia being a threat and rival, yet has become far too reliant upon Russian gas and oil sending them ridiculous amounts of money as a result. They were quite happy to ignore it's NATO obligations at the expense of everyone else so they could just continue to get what they wanted out of Russia. But now they don't have a choice and can't hide or rely on it's flawed system it designed for itself. How could it in good conscience claim to be a member of NATO and an ally to the West when it actively works against it in policy, it has been forced to make a choice and is paying the consequences of sitting idly exploiting the geopolitical climate now. Hopefully Germany will make positive changes now but it's going to take some time to see any real change or contribution from them. Even now they likely still just want it to end so they can go back to business as usual with Russia and stay in power. I wonder what the German people think about this situation.
Central europe views you as a buffer state and that is fucked up
Analysis of Italy would be cool. Feel like they aren’t talked about much anywhere
Kind of hard to analyze the position of the Italian government when that government is in the middle of collapsing 😅
@@XerxesZangeneh Italy has always had collapsing governments since WWII, but they seem to manage fine, Italy is a rich country, G7 member, the home of Ferrari and Gucci and the best food in the world, and really nice people, maybe they just like drama in politics?
@@XerxesZangeneh you mean they have a new government every 4-6 month :) but fun put aside, Italy still has a foreign policy that survives its governments. Internal turmoil still reduces its effect outward a great deal. "Always focus on home, not time to look outside.." so to say
@@XerxesZangeneh Italy Is supposedly a full on Republic, but in practice it tends to transform itself into a technocracy most of the time. While many think the government Is "collapsing", this Is Just It working _PROBABLY_ not as intended, but still as It Always has, really.
The issue lies mostly in the way the government Is structured, in how hard It Is to reform It, in creeping and insidius corruption at all levels of government, from Mafia infiltration or otherwise, massive divisions and conflicting interests between the populace, and the general ineptitude and unwillingness to work for the country or its people rather than for themselves from pretty much everyone in the upper/ruling class.
For these reasons, governments are massively unstable and tend to collapse Midway trought Their terms, and governing It Is essentially impossible as some politicians even stated outright, to the point where even Mario Draghi, Who Is by far the most competent ruler we had in decades, WANTS to resign.
The same guy Who saved the Euro doesn't want to deal with our BS.
In general Italy Is Just a REALLY complex country, its like that One piece of technology that when looking at It, you think to yourself It really shouldn't work, when you analize It you can SEE It shouldn't work, when you break It piece by piece and Build It back up you KNOW It shouldn't work, but still somehow not only works, It works Better than many alternatives. Could be some really complex siocio-economic reasons. I like to think its Just witchcraft.
Here's the short version of it: they're a joke.
Commitment of France's resources on the European continent, as is required for an adversarial stance towards Russia and a position of solidarity with Eastern Europe, would reduce it's available resources for maintaining it's influence in Africa. For now, it prioritizes the latter, but if the geopolitical situation continues to degrade in Europe - as seems probable, then it is conceivable that at some point it will be forced to prioritize the former.
The irony being it can get it's uranium from ukraine if it remains free and stop being a blight on mali.
@@Hession0Drasha There are no uranium mines in Mali. France gets its uranium mostly from Niger, with which it has a much better relation than Mali, but if Mali becomes an untable hub for regional jihadism, then the ripple effects will also be felt in Niger
It depends.. Macron wants a European federation with a standing army, this could be the perfect catalyst for that that he doesn’t want to take advantage of. However he will only be president until 2027 and if someone like Le Pen or Melenchon get elected then those plans are dead. The whole Europe from Lisbon to Vladivostok is impossible when there are two competing superpowers. One won’t simply give up sovereignty to the other. That being said, this is a test. So far I think it was cringey seeing macron trying to deescalate before the invasion and seeing him getting laughed at by Putin.
@@damienpeladan481 Mali collapsing would mean another failed state along the Mediterranean. This is the last thing the French and Southern Europeans want as Libya is bad enough.
@@thirstyserpent1079 Mali does not border the Mediterranean ... It's about the stability of the Sahel region
As a half-Belgian half-Chinese who’s spent most of my time in China, mostly in Hong Kong, I agree that it would be better if the US could focus all of its efforts on China. There is no greater threat to Western Civilisation and values than the Chinese Communist Party
I agree, but Hong Kong is not China
There is one: climate change.
Another threat to the Western Civilization is the Western Civilization itself, particularly in the US with reactionary movements, out of control corruption and oligarchy and the police state.
You are not wrong though, the CCP is the biggest rival on the geological chess board. But not the biggest threat.
Agree completely, but Russia is still destabilizing. It's possible both Russia and China will both go bankrupt and Balkanize in the next decade. That might be interesting.
@@hansgruber788 it is and it isn’t. But I’ve been to Mainland China enough times to see the level of brainwashing and censorship going on over there. And now they’re doing the same to HK, blatantly changing/erasing history to please their own narrative
@@hansgruber788 If The Taiwan calls itself China, Hong Kong of course can!
Poland is fast turning into especially the land powerhouse on the continent, with all of its recent weaponry procurements and the closeness to the USA. Poland will be able to yield this power to it's benefit in many different ways to the good of Poland and its people and to the western world as a whole.🇵🇱🇵🇱🇺🇸🇺🇸
Military power is just money down the toilet unless you use it. Who are you wanting Poland to invade?
@@jensboettiger5286 another way to look at it is that it dissuades other countries from invading you. Even if they are part of NATO, it is reassuring to know they have a robust domestic capability for defense.
the same retoric 50 years in the past replace poland with West Germany - the same picture - history repeating - im curious if Poland already sign the nuclear participation - has Poland already ordered F35?
They're also rapidly becoming very nationalistic and are abandoning the rule of law
@@papa_ya83 they have ordered f35
03:36 the subtitles says “the brutal repression of polish uprisings by terrorist Russia,” which is just TOO perfect!
tsarist, terrorist, same difference
This reminds me of something one of my university professors told me when I was studying history. “The USA will always chase after money, the British will always chase after power, and the French will always chase after glory. Look at how well that worked out for each of them.”
Well the USA is a currently a major superpowers. I am not saying they are perfect but they definitely are at the top
You’re professor has been around the block once or twice and knows his history. I don’t agree with the videos sentiment about France, personally I think it’s mostly just poorly veiled narrative constructed for the purpose of today’s political stance against Russia and lobbying support for that ever illusive “solidarity” my government seems to expect and if not, demand compliance. I feel like one of a very limited amount of Americans who can see through the hypocrisy and look upon the hegemonic entities at the real heart of things. Ahh, whatever I’m just a peon of course. I’ll sit back and try to enjoy the ride, unfortunately.
Umm, US is a superpower, England still has vastly greater influence & power than its geographic size would suggest... France has some good food... Honestly France hurts itself by being petty & arrogant, undermining its allies in order to make fanciful power plays or coddle relations with sketchy countries so that it can feel more influential.
@@kameronjones7139 it’s our geography …. we have the best land in the world …
Unlimited food and gas and steel.
Excellent analysis I fully concur as a French citizen! Poland has never gone to war against France, on the contrary, it was France's truest and most staunch ally, but unfortunately French elites have betrayed Poland several times, and sought support elsewhere! It is shameful, especially in 1939... De Gaulle was a visionary in that respect, and so was of course Napoleon Bonaparte also. Russian alliance is illusionary, it does not have the same interests. On the other hand, don't forget also though that France is also a maritime power, and that our interests are not only in Europe, but on all oceans.
I am not sure why Poland should be preferred to Germany by France. This sounds a bit Policentric view. The French/Polish alliance in the past were for most part alliances to restrain Germany's expansionism. There is no appetite for adventures of that kind in Germany anymore. Economically France's allies are in the south when it comes to budget discipline and keeping low interest rates. Militarily Poland Germany and France are all in the same boat. I know Germany is not happy about not getting cheap gas from Russia anymore but that is reality now.
By the way an interesting topic would be the upcoming elections of Italy and what kind of effect this might have on the support for the Ukraine war.
This channel always has been ethnocentric.
It's interresting if you want to know what polish people think but not so much if you want an unbiased view.
Germany is not expanding via military force anymore, but it is very much expanding via economic means.
First it is good to have balance in Europe.
Second it is in France's best interest to gain economic positions where there is opportunity to do so which currently happens to be the Three Seas axis, it is already at a major economic and thus EU influence disadvantage to Germany and it will get much worse if Germany is allowed to completely consolidate economic influence over CE as then those states will naturally take the German side in any EU dispute - even if they do not wish it, their dependence on Germany will leave them no choice.
Which leads me back to my first point - it is in everyone's interest to have balance in the EU. All states go through bad periods and Germany obviously will too. In such cases balance will prevent any one state from causing major damage - to itself and to the rest of Europe.
Germany's politicians have been too close to Russia for a long time, and if a chance to renormalize relations were to occur, even at the expense of Ukraine and Poland Germany would probably take it.
France and the UK have always been on the same side of curbing Russia expansionism into Central Europe, something Germany historically hasn't opposed as strongly.
@@idleishde6124 Historically that is my point. The problem with the Ukraine war, they didn't want to see it coming. After WW2 in Germany there was no interest in geopolitical games that Britain, France and the US were playing. They were part of it but not leading but following. In that sense they have a passive attitude towards things, but I would not describe as evil intend it is more geopolitical ignorance and incompetence in that regard. But I hope Germany will find it's responsibility within the community of democracies of Europe to defend its values no matter if they are in central Europe or eastern Europe.
Because the channel is run by a Pole
I'm French and I wish Macron would watch this.
He doesnt need to French help to Ukraine has great, anything from vehicles, some of the most advanced artillery, anti tank missiles, advance artillery rocket to Spy sattelite imaging, to hundreds of thousands of Ukranian refugees, to billion of dollars to fund weapon sales and to keep the Ukranian economy afloat.
Could be worse. Could be Putin-loving Le Pen
@@NisuUuno Agreed. And I don't think Mélenchon would've been better.
@@benoitbvg2888 yeah, french politics is a mess. maybe not as big of a mess as Italian though
@@NisuUuno
Or Putin-loving Mélenchon, or Putin-loving Zemmour...
This is some of the best geopolitical content on all of TH-cam.
Absolutely, I am in awe. I wonder if the French will be able to view this incredible content... Especially Macron.
Agreed. You may also like CaspianReport if you haven’t checked them out already.
@@tunahxushi4669 Apparently Macron is still too busy thinking like a boy about how cool it is that he got laid by his school teacher to think about things an adult in his position ought to be thinking about, like how to run a democratic nation, let alone how to advance a sane geopolitical strategy which will outlast him for said nation.
channel is biased though. some videos have clown information
no it's not. It's highly biased and videos like this prove it 100%. Caspianreport & Strategy Stuff are two channels that analyze history in a much more realistic way, without "opinion" pieces of 30year-olds with a Master's degree.
Not a single word about arguably the greatest achievement in postwar Europe, and the greatest contribution to European stability. The Franco German friendship. It was in France's own interest to thouroughly demilitarize Germany, so France can lead Europe. This has largely been a success. The author does not mention the importance of the good relations between France and Germany in a single breath. He only portrays Germany as a threat to France and Poland. This video argues that France should ally with Poland to diminish Germany. Just like the nationalists argue in Poland. Europe has moved on from such bilateral alliances, and unless people like this author understand that Europeans have to work together and not against each other, the EU will remain weak.
Charles De Gaulle wasn't the best general, but he was a genius politician. He understood state politics and geopolitics better than almost anyone
He has his monument on one of the main Warsaw squares, very few foreigners are memorized with such honor.
at a point, he knew NATO was just a group influenced by USA. he is right
@@BenyNukem I believe There's also Napoleon. The Polish are also quite popular in France.
As a German I can agree.
He was one of the fathers of European peace and what is today known as the European Union.
(yes I know. not piece for all of Europe. But at least for the members of that union)
I wouldn't want to imagine a world were Germany and France isn't that closely intervened as both countries are today.
Alex C. No, Napoleon wasn't ready for that big leap that France did under De Gaulle as he brought Europe together.
Napoleon also did great things. Like bringing the code civil into middle Europe.
But he was more driven by megalomaniac.
While Napoleon was about winning wars De Gaule won the peace. Something Napoleon never was able to do.
@@stemill1569 i was replying to number 2 not OP about Degaulles populairty in poland not as a peacemaker in Europe.
Little nitpicking: the treaties of Locarno were signed in 1925 not 1924 and came into force in 1926 when Germany joined the League of Nations.
From the US, I've always found it strange how France (seemingly) has such a strong anti-American stance. I've always seen Europe as a big brother to America; Europe is the birthplace of democracy, the rule of law, and personal freedom. Our common heritage should bind us together. And yet, France acts like there must be some counterbalance to the US for some reason. I just don't understand why France wants to benefit from American strength but wants to also keep the US at arm's length.
France was the center of western civilization for (debatabley) about 1,000 years. From Charlemagne's rise to Napoleon's defeat.
It's hard to come to reality and let go of power and influence. Especially to a far-away English-speaking upstart...
(That's not to say they don't like the US. They just want their own worldwide influence. And the EU is the conduit)
I see your point, but as a french let me explain, France has been fucked over and over and over and over by the Americans, the British and the english-speaking world as a whole (either as allies or ennemies). Therefore there is a lot of skepticism in France about the anglos and what they're doing.
From 2003 Iraq, the betrayal of 39 and 40, 1914, the many ways in which the americans have fucked us over.
it's because of opposite interests. Just look a Iraq, France sold many weapons to Saddam Hussein while the us wanted saddam to go. At the end of the day, us interest always go in conflict with our interests
@@zedxyle We just don't have the same interests and the US/UK alliance being so close doesn't help us trust the US much. Add to that the US turning away from Europe to focus on Eastern Asia & its anti-Arab policy, and we're back in the same mess as the 60s.
@@zedxyle In contrast, the UK has largely moved on because they can always attribute the US success to their own legacy. After all, it is a former British colony and were Britain of the time not as liberal as it was, the Founding Fathers would have given as little of a shit about democracy as their counterparts further Southward.
Had France not lost Quebec to the British during the Seven Years' War, it would most likely have evolved into a kind of a similar, albeit in all likelihood far smaller, less powerful and more authoritarian French version of the US. In that case, today's France would be simping for that country instead, on the very same "so proud of my boy, proves that I've been a good father" grounds.
I’d like to point out something about the US that very rarely gets brought up. The US has three natural/necessary allies, the UK, Canada, and Mexico. It has zero existential security concerns outside of civil war and nuclear war. Even if it chose not to engage geopolitically, it would retain almost all of its instruments of power. The US could very easily contain itself to the Western Hemisphere and maintain a decent standard of living for its citizens. So when we say “the US needs so and so” what we’re really saying is the US’s neo-liberal global project needs so and so. The US doesn’t NEED very much at all. That’s why it’s so incredibly powerful.
This is a great overview.
What I find terrifying about the USA is that they only spend 3% GDP on its military. In 1944 the USA spent 62% on GDP...
The USA also has a large technological lead over its competitors now.
The outcome of a USA geared for Total War would be terrifying.
Same can be said for china, Japan, Germany and South Korea since they are all industrial powerhouses.
@@millevenon5853 The US federal budget sometimes is equal to the entire German economy.
So that should give you an idea.
That is why Japan and South Korea have the US military there.
62% of GDP into the military? Dream on. What you think of is 62% of state budget
I just wish that 1% of that bullet could be given to NASA.
The USA could have a millitary bullet up to 7% and little to none affect on their economy.
I have some problems with the basics of this thinking f.e. in "historical ties". These historical ties occured in rightless times, when it was just usual (and considered as fameful!) that empires invaded other empires and were proud of that. Prussia, Austria and Russia divided Polland-Lithuania, proud to have conquered parts of it. And they did it, because they knew, that also also Polland-Lithuania would have swallowed Austria, Prussia or Russia, when having an opportunity for that.
All that strategic thinking of making a counterweight against these historical enemies is based upon such an era in which how Immanuel Kant described it, states have an order inside, but are lawless against each other. When states were proud for having conquered this territory, occupied that colony and having massacred several uprising populations, not satisfied with the new rule. In such a world you need of course to seek strategical, long-lasging alliances, mostly with states who have similar interests like between Prussia and Russia in dividing Polland.
The fact is, that today this era has Ended in Europe I think in the 1960. Historical conquests, colonial pasts etc. are all over Western states considered either as unimportant or even as a morale burden of their state's history. No German would shift the French-German border to the Marne, neither a French-man to the Elbe (even in case that such a conquest would be able without any losses in the own army!), in spite of the fact that these ideas of conquering were modern not so long ago. Today we have a West that is struggling maintaining the own identity but facing identities that still think in the way of conquest. French culture of 21st century is not threatened by an expansionistic German culture, but maybe by an Islamic culture that prefers taking stakes of Europe than improving their own societies. Not German bombs threat to terrorize the people in Paris, but Islamic extremists do so. On the German side vice versa.
We only have today a conflict between the political West, which is non-expansionistic since the decolonization-era and civilizations who still think in rules of expansionism like f.e. the putinistic-ruled Russia and on the mid-term run maybe even with High-Tech-totalitarian systems like red-Chine. But their are no threats within Western cultures, because they're all non-expansionistic today.
This questions the idea of "historical alliances", which had occured in another era. Non-expansionistic countries follow a logic if they ally with other non-expansionists. If I'm not a robber, my natural allie is another non-robber, not the guy who robs today only my neighbour (I could be his next victim). And so it's just not a question of history who your allies are. A Western, non-expanding state that supports nowadays an expansionistic anachronism maintains treason against the West. And an non-expansionistic state that tries to contain another today non-expansionistic state (for example if non-expansionistic French think about containing a non-expansionstic Germany) have just not understood our time.
Putinism, High-Tech-Totalitarianism (also called data-fascism), Islamism and so on are the threat of nowadays. And I expect from all free people who want to stay free, that they ally with other people who want to be free. Living in the past and maintaining "historical alliances" with expansionists and totalitarisms means to live without reason in our time, because such people live the spirit of a time that is gone - at least in Western countries.
this is so brilliantly explained, thank you
Glad i read this!
speak for yourself
Europe should be United against Russia and also rearm so america doesn’t have to focus so much on defending Europe. Europe should be able and strong enough to handle Russia alone while the US can go focus on China
Yes, Europe needs to be able to defend itself, by itself. The US might not be willing or able to save us every time.
Europe is not a one organism. There are countries for example like Germany that have expanded it's economic ties heavily with ruZZia over the last decades despite concerns and critice from the CE countries. How are these contries going to accept german assurancess with something like that - they can always come to the conclusion that it's worth to sell the CE for the peace and the possiblity of trading with RF. And that's not a SF scenario like some would like to depict.
Thats precisely why the US DONT want to let Europe form an army and accept Ukraine defeat.
@@diabelgrogaty1963 we need a confédération
@@pierren___ EU army will be useless if its led by cowards like France and Germany. They are too scared to send weapons to Ukraine and the Anglo saxons are doing all the work
glad to see the content coming regularly
The UK gave the US all its over seas bases after the war. It bascially handed over its empire to the US to continue on. France on the other hand was more interested in trying to rebuild their empire. Its the whole reason the US got involved in Vietnam (a french colony prior). France always wanted to seem like an equal to the us/uk alliance. And it seems to have shifted it centuries long grudge it had the briton to the us. This is apparent even today. Its more interested in french speaking ex-colonies in africa and middle east than in nato unity. It wants german money, eu brain drain and russian resources to build itself as equal to the us. Even as one of the founding 5 atomic powers (us, uk, france, russia/ussr, china) it periodically sided with non-uk/us actions as a way to 'prove its point'. This is getting to a point where, france will either have to 'join the club' as a jr member (like all other nato counteries do) or get left to fend for itself. with economic stress on the eu, and russia cutting off its trade to them, I don't think they'll have a century to figure out the answer to that question.
In a way France is just like Russia: the 20th century mindset dominates it's foreign policy and policymakers
For the foreseeable future, I can't see France being invited into the American fold. I hope this means something coming from an American: France is absurdly narcissistic. There's a reason why we give military secret tech to Israelis or Japanese.
Ressources from Russia? wtf are you talking about. France don't want to delusion itself thinking we can be the US. Just willing to maintain our society model.
Long live France and Europe.
The only reason why the US got involved in Vietnam is that they fund the Vietminh agaist the French in the late 40's, the same thing that they did in afghanistan in the 80's...
I always wait for your videos.
Beside the "three seas initiatives" I'd like to see a video about the former Easter Block countries, since Poland becomes a regional power, Romania developes as well in their region, the Baltic States, Czech Republic and Slovakia, Hungary and other states thrive as well. It would be interesting what role all this countries play in the future of Europe in regards to economy, cultural development and a maybe militarily aspect.
Thanks a lot for the great videos. Cheers from Austria
So would I, that'd be great. Would be nice to see Romania's huge tech sector and cybersecurity, Poland's air defence network acting as the anchor in the region and the baltic states and their huge defensive infrastructure and plans to turn the entire region into a quagmire in case of invasion highlighted and explained.
I honestly don't know enough about the Czech Republic, Slovakia or Hungary in terms of NATO role to say what their primary contribution is. Regardless of NATO role, the Czechs could always bring the beer :P
@@barbariandude I think the Czechs are somehow underestimated. Think about their weapon industry like the C.Z. arms, the TATRA Company, they even own not the famous Colt from the US. On the other side, you might be right about the Romanians and the Poles. These two have a long history of fighting together. Example: the Battle of Vaslui. The Czechs are also thankful regarding the Romanians, since they did not attack Prague as the Soviets demanded it in the half of the last century. Let's hope this great nations come back to the glory of the past, because we in the west lost our ability to do so for many postmodern reasons.
Isn’t their population about to half in like 50 years? I don’t think they’ll be able to do much
@@barbariandude Poland is also ramping up it’s army to ~300,000 in the next decade or so
@@alexnelson4914 by today's standards. Probably. How about the west? In few years we turn into non monolithic mix of Islam,gay, transgender, and all kind of nonworking bunch of postmodernists voters . Do you think that anyone votes in favor of what we want and will it be good for our country and in our interests?
Some of you are confused as to why would France involve itself more with Poland. Let me explain. Poland puts a wedge between Germany and Russia which together annihilate France Influance-wise (Poland jurisdiction-wise) as history shows.
With strong Poland Germany needs to play nice with other "Western kids", which leaves Russia isolated. This enhances France's position in comparison. Poland is a loyal friend - just wants to be secure (Russo - german tendecy to bond and then fight, has always been the biggest detriment for this region, so Poland preferably would always pick France over Germany) . We would have no qualms with realising most France's political projects. Question is, what exactly are those.
They keep conjuring up mirages of a unified european security structure (with France in the leading role most ludicrously). One wonders how they intend to achieve that, when alone they are the weakest of the 3 continental players and they refuse to support prospects materialising their goal before them. I guess milking Africa and spewing empty words is good enough.
So the argument is about why France should choose Poland over Russia. While I fundamentally agree I don't see your explanation.
Why would a strong Poland result in less relations between Russia and Germany?
Why do you say that Germany needs to orient itself towards western Europe (not Russia) with a strong Poland? The interest Germany has in Western Europe is fundamentally different from that in Russia. One can't replace the other. Western Europe are partners, Russia a resource dump.
And why do I have the feeling that your reasoning is more appropriate for the early 20th century then modern day?
Russia is fundamentally a thread for the EU, proven to be unable to become a partner. That is the simple reason why France and Germany need closer ties to Poland, not Russia. And Germany can't rely on Russia for resources anymore eliminating the big reason for a partnership between Russia and Germany anyway.
(besides the former "influencing Central Europe where Russian involvement would be harmful for German interests nowadays)
so who do you want to lead the European defence ? you prefer USA to defend you rather than doing it yourself among europeans ? France has the only real army in Europe, you need to educate yourself. I can hear your hate though.
@@privatesale211 The problem is most European militaries are very weak due to having relied on the United States for decades. Even the more competent European militaries lack the military experience, funding, and industrial capacity to be able to compete with the United States as a defense guarantor. I mean if you look at Ukraine the US has been able to give the most military equipment because it not only has the stocks but also the industrial capacity to replace the equipment it gives, even countries like Poland at making deals to give military equipment to Ukraine on the basis that the US will replace that equipment. When it comes to military affairs the US is probably the most experienced and reliable partner, look at Australia canceling its deal with France to instead work with the US.
@@privatesale211 No hate, just bitterness looking at your ineptitude. You may flex with the "real army", but your president keeps bouncing on Putin's co*k undermining the whole European's community effort. Yes, the whole effort. Cuz the only reasonbly humane way this thing ends, is if Russia breaks down mentaly and folds. For that to happen, we need to be presenting a unified front. It's kind of hard to do when the two would-be leaders of Europe are calling Putin every 15 minutes to check up if he is not too upset. This sort of behaviour is what led to this situaton in the first place. He thinks you are weak and you are proving him right.
But that's a talk for 5 months ago. Like I said: bitterness.
German support to Ukraine so far:
20000 protective vests in 2014[188]
Vektor reconnaissance drones (not provided by federal government)[189]
The following has been delivered to Ukraine according to the federal government:[190]
3,000 Panzerfaust 3 cartridges plus 900 launchers, with the first 1000 being sent on 26 February 2022, breaking a long tradition of banning weapon exports to active warzones.[191][192]
14,900 anti-tank mines
500 STINGER anti-aircraft missiles
2,700 9K32 Strela-2m[193][194] 700 were found to be no longer usable.
5,100 MATADOR anti-tank weapons via Dynamit Nobel[195]
Additional 2,900 MATADOR anti-tank weapons via Dynamit Nobel by June 26 [196][197]
21.8 million rounds of handgun ammunition
5 million 7.62×51mm NATO rounds[198]
3 million 5.56×45mm NATO rounds[198]
100 MG 3 machine guns with 500 spare barrels and bolts
100,000 hand grenades
5,300 explosive charges
100,000 meters of detonating cord and 100,000 detonators
350,000 detonators
100 auto-injectors
14 anti-drone sensors and jammers
10 anti-drone cannons
28,000 combat helmets
15 pallets of military clothing
280 motor vehicles ( trucks, minibuses, SUVs)
100 tents
12 power generators
6 pallets of material for explosive ordnance disposal
125 twin telescopes
18 pallets of medical supplies, 60 surgical lights
Protective clothing, surgical masks
10,000 sleeping bags
600 shooting glasses
1 radio frequency system
3,000 field telephones with 5,000 reels of field cord and carrying equipment
1 field hospital (joint project with Estonia)
353 Night vision goggles (NVG's)
4 electronic anti-drone devices[199]
165 binoculars
Medical supplies (including rucksacks, first-aid kits)
38 laser range finder
Fuel diesel and petrol
10 tons of AdBlue
500 pieces of wound dressings to stop bleeding
MiG-29 spare parts
30 armored vehicles
80 Toyota pickup
10,500 rounds of artillery ammunition (including SMArt 155 guided ammunition [200][201])
14 armored cars by 25 March[198] (probably now included in either the "motor vehicle" or "armored vehicle" entries(?))
"Vector" reconnaissance VTOL drones via Quantum-Systems[202][203]
20,000 protective-vests (in 2014)[204]
1,300 bullet-proof vests[198]
500,000 military food rations[199]
10 Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled howitzers including adaptation, training and spare parts provided by the German Army in Idar-Oberstein[205][206](joint project with the Netherlands)
10,000 155 mm artillery ammunition
3 MARS II along with GMLRS rockets[207][208][205]
5 GEPARD anti-aircraft tanks[205]
Signed off, not yet delivered due to training or technical adaption:
53,000 rounds of anti-aircraft ammunition
8 mobile ground radars and thermal imaging devices
4,000 rounds of anti-aircraft training ammunition
10 (+ optional 10) autonomous surface vessels
14 semi trucks and trailers
2 tractor units and 4 trailers
1 high frequency device and related equipment
10 protected vehicles
7 jammers
8 electronic anti-drone devices
4 mobile, remote-controlled and protected demining devices
1 vehicle decontamination point
43 recon Drones
54 M113 armored personnel carriers with armament (systems from Denmark, conversion financed by Germany)
25 GEPARD anti-aircraft tanks including around 6,000 rounds of anti-aircraft ammunition
100,000 first aid kits
IRIS-T SL air defence system(s)[209]
Cobra counter-battery radar system(s)[210][211]
5,032 anti-tank weapons
3 Bergepanzer 2 [212]
5 Biber bridge laying tanks[213]
15 Leopard 2A4 tanks to be donated to the Czech Republic as partial replacement of T72 previously given by the Czech Republic to Ukraine / part of purchase of ~50 2A7+ Leopard tanks.[214][215]
20 to 25 Leopard 2 A4, ammunition and recovery vehicle(s) to be delivered to Poland as partial replacement for tanks given to Ukraine[216]
122 Marder 1A3 IFV and Lynx KF41 to be donated to Greece in return for an equal number of Greek BMP-1P IFVs to be passed to Ukraine.[217]
€1.83 billion in bilateral aid since 2014[218][219]
approx. €4 billion via the EU in the form of grants and loans since 2014.[218]
€240 million via the EU in loans in 2022.[218]
Loan of over €150 million via KfW in April 2022.[220]
€425 million via the 'Stand Up For Ukraine' pledging campaign and an additional 70 million for medical aid via the EU[221]
Over €1 billion additional military aid to Ukraine for weapons purchases in April 2022[222]
Additional €1 billion pledged in the form of grants in May 2022[223]
One mobile field hospital worth €5.3 million and associated training of medical staff in February 2022[224]
Evacuating and treating wounded Ukrainian soldiers in Germany since 2014[225][226]
Deutsche Bahn initiated a "railbridge" in March 2022 and began delivering over 10,000 tons of humanitarian aid[227][228]
50 Unimog medical transport vehicles[198][199]
14 pallets of medical supplies[229]
65 refrigerators for medical supplies[230]
1200 Hospital beds[230]
WoW GeMoney, Poland with less than a ¼ GDP compared to GerMoney,
HAS send weapons worth more than 1,8 billion to Ukraine in 2022 ALONE.
GerMoney talks what they WILL send some day & Poland what HAS been delivered.
Germoney Blocked Ukraines request to BUY 100 PZH 2000 SINCE APRIL.
5million Ukrainian refugees are in Poland right now & we don't ORDER a quota system to Germoney, Like ur GOV did to Poland, after inviting millions of illegal migrants to Europe.
This is not the time 2 act as if your GOV was on the support Train all along, infact your GOV is still blocking sanctions against Ruzzia proposed by Poland & Lithuania. We want you to stop Scholzing around & show some backbone!
Deliver what Ukraine is asking about then we talk again son!
In Poland we say Macron & Scholz are Serial- callers cuz the love to phone Putler so much.
There is nothing more to talk about with the Kremlin, Ruzzian orks must unconditionally leave Ukranian soil,
Donbas & Crimea bevore there will be any talks again.
Poland guaranteed Ukraine, we will not accept any French or German apeasment deal involving Ruzzia.
Poland will follow Ukraine & support you until Ruzzia seeks for a peace with UKRAINE in favor & only if Ukraine agrees.
Cuz we see us as equal Partners & not Overlords, high time to take notes: France & GerMoney.
But we are not alone in Europe, Czechia, Slovakia, Lithuania, Latvia & Estonia see things the same way & suppot more
relatively to their GDP than any other country in the world.
Ruzza "threatened" to nuke Warszawa & declared Poland asEnemy of Ruzzia No.1 after Ukraine & we Poles are very proud of that.
From France !! I agree with everything you said !!! I don't know why Macron hang on to Putin like this !! And he should have been in closer relation with central europe.
But to add some nuance. I am not sure that the central European countries would have welcome French initiative. Poland remember that France declared war on Germany when they invaded and it changed nothing. They only want American support and I don't think they are interested with the like of France.
Plus the current government is not really euro friendly and didn't have good relation with Brussels prior to the Ukrainian war.
But I agree with you that the futur is not with Russia but Poland !!
And, as a French the famous character that is brought up to illustrate French Polish closeness is Marie Curie. I didn't event know before this video that Chopin was buries in Paris (thank you for the information).
There wouldn't be bad realations if Brussles weren't pressing Poland in variuos ways like limiting the coal mines and the energy from that resource because it is not eco or nature friendly or other shit...I don't care about ecology if people would have later pay half of their wages for "fuel" to no freez in the winter.
Or the accusations about the lack of rule of law in Poland and the "supposed" perseciution of judges by the current ruling party "PiS". Many of these "judges" have a communist past and were closely cooperating with the righfully past system. But the narration is that Poland is heavily opressing judges - you have so many places to care about violating human right is much bigger scale but you lock up on such a country like Poland describing it like some authoritarian opessive state and putting some stupid sanctions becasue of that.
And about Hungary...for me Hungary isn't now a friend of Poland as the current leader is acting like some petty dictator trying to cooperate with ruZZia and accusing NATO of as much responsibility about this conflict as ruZZia.
If Brussles wouldn't be pushing it's rules and restrictions on Poland for it wanting to fight for the best interests of it's people as any normale country does then there wouldn't be any lack of trust. And everyone know what countries are the "real" EU and who is really pulling the strings...it would be stupid to don't know.
Best news channel. I saw one of your video before didn't subscribed and lost it. I spended hours looking for you guys.
I would love It if you, as other mentioned, talked a bit about Italy, but also about Spain: its honestly incredible how little Spain Is talked about despite how big they are, i can never really get more than a glimpse into Their stances on issues.
In general, id like a Little more exploration of Southern Europe, not only of my own home, but of fellow Mediterranean countries too, even tho Greece has alredy been talked about at great lenght.
Gonna second this. Every now and then I forget Spain even exists, just because no one really talks about it. It's like when the world cup rolls around I'm like "oh yea, those guys are here too". It's kind of a shame considering how much they have contributed to the world. I think it's because their history in general is a bit convoluted and hard to summarize and TH-cam likes the catchy headlines.
Italy and Spain are certainly important coutries, and I would also be interested in an analysis. But fundamentally, they pale in comparison to european Great Powers like Germany, France, the UK, Russia, and maybe even rising Poland.
They are not big geopolitical actors, they are demographically and economically declining, and though on a world-level they remain very rich countries, for the region they are in, they are not. The 2022 IMF GDP rankings put Canada ahead of Italy, even though Italy has 22 million more people. Canada's GDP is also an entire Switzerland larger than Spain (800 billion). And no one is claiming Canada is a Great Power... (though, it must be said, Canada does have a larger role in NATO operations than Italy and Spain do).
All that being said, I do not believe Italy and Spain have the military or economic power to influence European geopolitics. Therefore, naturally, they are talked about less.
please don't get me wrong.
Spain is big in size. But it's economy has several problems. So despite its size it lacks the strength that is seen with other countries.
I believe the reason Greece is often talked about is simple. It's the European country that is for a long time in a conflict with Turkey.
And back at European Economic crisis it was one of the countries that suffered the most.
I'm also interested in more knowledge about my southern neighbors.
@@DavidCelestialKnight 😉I think Spain is as Germany an underachiever when it comes to NATO commitment.
But I think I read once Spain also increased its military spending this year.
And yes. The refugee crisis in Spain or better in all of southern Europe is a huge problem for the countries. I believe that we all should work more together with such problems. I believe that would also help to solve at least some of the economic problems of the southern European countries.
And when the refugees become a problem that is acknowledged by all of the EU we can solve it way better together.
It’s because Spain has a stupid leftist government that doesn’t do anything worthy of mention, apart from dumb shit.
You. Are. Spot. On.
I remember commenting on your channel on a previous video that the reason France was reluctant to go against Russia was due to pro American sentiment. I even sometimes defended France in some comments where you criticised it, but proceeded to delete them when macron said that "we must not humiliate Putin".
This, was frankly the final straw, which made me not only despair about macrons foreign policy decisions, but most importantly despair about the lack of reaction from french people with regards to this. I am so glad you made this video and elaborated on this issue, as well as talking about the importance of Franco polish relations.
I think non anglophone french people really need to watch this video, and realize that their anti Americanism is leading France's future power and influence straight to the bin.
And yet as an Estonian I must say I can't think of any better alternative to Macron in France either. I'm sure much of this is up to my own ignorance with regard to French politics and politicians but Le Pen is not someone I'd like to see come to power for an example.
@@Megalomaniakaal absolutely
@@Megalomaniakaal Which is a pretty awful indictment about current French politics.
@@Mixcoatl Perhaps.
This sentence from Macron has been vastly misunderstood internationally, however it was addressing a french public. In France and since a very young age, we're being taught that the main reason of WWII was because we humiliated Germany with the Traité de Versailles. Hence why the sentence, meaning: We're confident Ukraine will win, but let's not plant the seed of a much worst conflict in the future by stripping completely Russia. Russia, not Putin.
Send Ukrainians everything they need to reclaim PRIOR to 2014 borders. Slava Ukraine ! with Love From Sweden
Autsch, as a german you get much heat on this channel 😅 Germany would never make an alliance with Russia, one party in the government, not the population or majority of Bundestag, but just the SPD have some problems with dropping russian business interests. I as an east german have actually closer cultural ties to Poland then France
Its rather amusing that i feel a big anti german sentiment here. We are seen as the bad guys here and i dont know why
Trust it's something you earn. Given that German response to the russian invasion is let's name it "gentle" ,certainly not up to German economy that's in heavy-weight league. Political leaders of Germany are somehow all from corrupted by Soviets DDR. Merkel,Sholts,Shreader... That's where Putin has spent his sweet KGB years .
Are we suppose to believe they are all conspiracies and coincidents?
@@Texo333 I think he fails to differ between german population and politicians. The SPD was in the government either as a partner or as leader in power since the 2000s (with 4 years exception) and they had huge influence. What many people seem to forget is that in the 2008 NATO summit Bush forced Ukraine and Georgia to attend or they would have lost US support completely and at that time there was no majority for NATO in Ukraine which would have been necessary. One could argue Germany and France saved Ukraine from invasion in 2008, but it´s up for debate. Let´s take a look at the Minsk accord 2015/16. Actually at that point Ukraine was loosing the war against Russia and his proxies in the Donbass. We said, pls Proschenko don´t try to take them back by force it will fail and they will hate you even more and it will split the region for sure. Well he tried to conquer them back, but the ukrainian army at that time wasn´t ready and Russia heavily supported the Separatists including with artillery etc. so the ukrainian army was about to loose when the Misk accord was signed, actually Ukraine urged Germany to regociate this with russia to get a breathing pause, so we did. Of course neither Putin or Ukraine followed through with the agreement, but we did what Ukraine wished of us at that time and it gave Ukraine the opportunity to reform their army. You all can shit on Germany all you want, but you know it to be true if not check your archives. Yes we need to do more now, but not all was a mistake in the past...
@@lukasj19999 yes. here in the region most people donated something and its on the countryside. We send 15 trucks over there and donated a lot of money - which i think most Germans did. So of course there are people that dont care about ukraine here in Germany aswell but as much as i can tell the majority supports Ukraine and the people that can help by donating money or other stuff to ukraine did that. The gouvernment is a bit diffrent. Germany had a ban of weapons sales to nations at war or with a conflict. They changed that and are now sending Panzerhaupitzen 2000 or the MRLS Mars and other heavy equipment to Ukraine. While those weaponsystems are great and good they came too late and too few. Nevertheless, Germany made a 180° U turn in case of military aid. Also yes the chancellor still trys to slow down the weapons like the iris t anti air system. Also The FDP, Greens, and the CDU/CSU are all for a bigger support of Ukraine and they would make the majority in the Bundestag. Its just the SPD with their russian ties that stopps that a bit. The German economy relies on cheap russian gas or oil for it to be competitiv. Germany did a 180 turn in their policy and increased their support of ukraine. its sad that we are still portrayed as the bad guys really hurts because we as the people do a lot for ukraine.
Iam also from east germany, have even polish anestry (but now a french wife), i think also Poles like him couldnt explain you why alleged low support of germany to ukraine turns us evil and the same low amount of France into a potential ally, lacks logic. But if you read between the lines, Poland (or better to say the current government) regards itself in a competition with Germany and steers tensions towards us, we should learn form mistakes to russia (naivity) but also not repeat these mistakes now with other countries like Poland, they are intentionally negative towards us, no matter what we do
Why should France neglect the strategic partnership with Germany to "contain it's expansion", aligning itself with Poland? Germany has no appetite for expansion. Simply, it would just be irrational for France to oppose Germany.
I think it was more so in reference to past historic context. But as someone else said in response to a similar comment to yours, Germany is expansionist in(and beyond) EU in terms of economics.
But I also must say that I do agree that refocusing and improving integration and relations with central Europe geopolitically doesn't really mean it has to come at the expense of partnership with Germany. It rather also has to bring Germany more into it and in alignment on this.
"Germany has no appetite for expansion" they don't need to. They already dominate and opress economicaly the whole continent.
@@Megalomaniakaal if you read the description of this video, you can see that this opinion is rather based on personal emotions than geopolitical facts and realities. The video tries to proof this by overestimating the importance of historical events and cherry-picking. For example, How should France and Poland enter a strategic partnership with such different stances on EU policy? What about the relationship between Poland and Hungary before the full-scale invasion? etc. Their references to the past don't matter. If so, Germany and France would have a much worse relationship than now, for example.
@@f1fan3000 Eh. You're missing the forest for the trees, and kind of proving the video's point in the process.
France is not a global power, nor will it ever be again. The EU is not a global power. Central Europe has far more trust in the US and the UK than it does in France and Germany. France needs to accept that it will only ever be a regional power at best, and that its interests obviously overlap with its western allies.
@@jeffmorris5802 the EU is absolutely a global power. It may not be a superpower but it’s still the second largest economy in the world (if you consider the du a single economy) and one of the largest exporters of technology.
Interesting video though I dont agree with everything. Abandoning the European security project that is the close cooperation of France and Germany in favour of old chessboard diplomacy within Europe sounds like a horrible idea.
Also I would have liked if you said from whom the opinion piece was from at the start of the video. That way it would have been clear that this was more of a subjective analysis.
France complaining "Your militaristic! You sell weapons!"
Also France. Incredibly irritated that more countries buy guns from America than from the French
It was just a backstabbing dirty move from a close "ally". And a very bad one for the aussie, now they won't have their subs anytime soon.
And its normal.
Good video but I think you overestimate the historical importance when it comes to diplomacy. Even if France and Poland has been historicaly friends that doesn't mean that Germany can't be a better ally to Poland than France can. The most important factor isn't history, the most important thing is the government. One year you can have a government in France that is anti-poland, and another year you can have a government that is pro-poland.
Especially when several examples of France's failures towards Poland were left out, the best example being the failure of France to militarily support Poland during the German invasion where France backtracked on its promise to launch an offensive against Germany to take pressure off Poland (as well as the whole appeasement thing).
Agree. This channel is very good, but it overestimates classical theories of international relations. It's a big pitfall.
@@Feeshermon Cringeworthy historicism does well in geopolitics videos for some reason. Yeah it's dumb, but I still liked the rest of the video
Germany as an ally? You've got to be kidding. They've proven they can not be relied upon, and that they will place the interests of multinationals above literally everything else.
@@Feeshermon I think it kinda touched the issues, just not highlighted them, when talkin bout du galls change of focus.
That being said i cant ever think of a germany as ally to Poland, historically its always been terrible and even in current conflict they seem to be too tangled up with russia to be reliable
French diplomatic opposition towards American interests in Europe is baffling to a pretty fair degree, considering that there is nearly a 1 to 1 overlap in their strategic goals in the region. they both want a strong and prosperous Europe that can handle it's own affairs. furthermore is how one-sided the diplomatic animosity is, as the US has literally always viewed France as an invaluable, if not fussy, partner
It's more about national character. France still sees itself as a major world power. The irony is that for all the crap Brits get about supposedly being "nostalgic" for the days of the empire, it's actually France, not the UK, who wants to resurrect their imperial past.
French here, we consider the US as fussy partners too, enjoying going behind our backs to sell subs to the aussies, that they'll not have before 2040 at best
@@drhelmut3467 don't worry they're going to backstab us 2 I wonder who they're going to go to next lol
@@drhelmut3467 As much as I like the americans, that sub move was kinda dubious.
@@drhelmut3467 I would personally make the argument from the Australian perspective. where their strategic objectives changed in the time between signing and delivery. where at that point from their perspective, which partner's goals are more in line with theirs, the US who's goals are essentially a 1 to 1 match with their own, and so further cooperation yield much greater benefits than just equipment that better fits their new mission set. or France who would might offer a new contract, and maybe at very best be a passive partner. because a thing to remember that for as needlessly bullish as they see the US as being, most of the western world sees western Europe's diplomatic and strategic efforts as confused and counter productive
Great content. This is becoming a better alternative to Caspian Report
Why not both?
@@SteelinFlames1 Well, on at least one occasion, CaspianReport has basically stolen what others have written and created a video from it, without ever giving credit.
@@SteelinFlames1 Caspian Report also tends to have a right-wing editorial bias. Some might like it, but I think it turns people off. It turned me off for sure.
why not both!!
@@tcb3901 Its not right wing as much as it is pro turkey imo
We need to bring back the Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth! 🇵🇱🇺🇦🇧🇾🇱🇻🇪🇪🇱🇹
As an Estonian I might rather favor a federalized EU instead. But the 3 seas initiative is promising.
@@Megalomaniakaal intermarium ma wspólne interesy
@@kb8839 Regional security, yes.
Which geopolitical/foreign policy/international relations/etc-type TH-cam/Twitter accounts are all of you following? I want to be more informed about the broader world beyond my heavy focus on CCP-China. The shifts happening now and over the coming years will ultimately revolve around the United States-China showdown. I want to learn more about the secondary players, especially in Mexico/Latin America, Europe (minus Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Hungary), India, the Middle East, the Indo-Pacific (minus Australia, Taiwan, Japan, the Koreas), Central Asia and Africa.
edit: Most interested in those regions (which I realize is basically the rest of the world) and their relations with and reactions to 🇺🇸, 🇨🇳 & 🇷🇺
Thanks!
LiveUA
I presume the 'minus' are because you are already following sources on those?
@@Megalomaniakaal Correct.
Caspian Report makes really good videos about geopolitics and Task & Purpose showcases the US’s relation to many different countries from a military perspective. Binkovs Battlegrounds also does some geopolitical analysis in his hypothetical conflict videos, which cover the most likely future wars in addition to more lighthearted scenarios.
0:09
as a german I would like to quote
"olaf Scholz has the carisma and itellect of a potted plant" my father.
"potted". but on point otherwise.
@@dzejrid well good to know for future reverance
🤣
German speaking politicians with charisma sind Verboten. Especially when leading a five lettered policital party. HaHa.
@@dpt6849 the last charismatic German politician was I think an Austrian-born painter. Apparently he liked dogs.
As my eyes, (and as a French), I don't think that France see Russia as a partner since a while. Indeed, France has launch military trainings with Estonia and there is good ties with baltic States to maintain a strong frontier against the Russia. Furthermore, that not for nothing if they that much spying and intelligence issues between Russia and France. Another fact is the rivalry between Russia and France in Africa, and I invite you to see how the Wagner group are replacing France in Mali, just to do the same as in Central Africa (with Russian exploitation of mining fields).
Even if I really love the polish people and culture, sadly, it seem that a friendship isn't an option when we look how the nationalist and governing parties talk about France, and with all the Europeans discussions that lead to strong opposition.
Ya its important to remember that the current polish goverment, for all its help to Ukraine and against Russia, is still a pretty right wing goverment, who is trying to overturn the courts, break EU rules, and is oppressing women with some of the harshest abortion laws in the world (which even Ukranian refugees have suffered for)
I will show you Polish perspective. Polish "bad" nationalist were called the same way Rus, are calling Ua now (censorship). Number of foreigners in PL is reaching 10% of our population. Do you see burning cars, on ours streets?
Poland was protesting against NorthStream2. Did France supported this protest? Now somehow Germans cannot do more, cuz GAS, and they expect solidarity from others. Cheeky...
Cuz more important for EU is their ideology expansion, than some pipe in a sea...
I have bad opinion about Macron, and generally politics in France. If I will look in history, I see more reasons, to not like France, than like it. But I agree with this material. Our relations have potencial, as long, as France will not support Germany against Poland.
BTW. Before the war I was reading french comment about bad USA wich do not want to leave Europe, just to be... I do not agree with this...
Didn't Poland take 3mln refugess from Ukraine? It doesn't look like nationalist goverment to me.
He did mention that France has been getting away from Russia since 2013.
Yeah as a French I agree
One more why we can't get along is the position to take towards Russia after the end of the Ukraine War
Recently Darius Rochebin did an interview with Lech Walesa the former Polish syndicate leader
He went on to say during the interview that Nato and the coalition led by the United States should reduce Russia to its European geography basically reducing Russia to a population of 60 million people
That's not an acceptable outcome for Russia or even France or the EU because of the mess it could create
Also the polish government and people seem to be going through the same feeling the French government went through towards Germany in the 1920's but it's a very self destructive bevahior
In a way Poland is slowly transforming into what it hates without realising it this goes back to what You say about a nationalist government
Europe from Lisbon to Vladivostok
Funny that Vladivostok would not have become Russian had Hong Kong not become a Crown Colony
This is a pretty good video with some details missing or let out.
For starters it was the German empire during ww1 that revived the Polish and central European states from Russian rule.
Secondly the term "from Lisabon to Vlodivostok" is not a core part of European or even French policy making but rather a phrase of optimism and potential of closer economic ties with Russia, this was said before the 2022 invasion, during that time Russia was becoming more economically tied with the west and was showing signs of modernisation, all of that progress has now pretty much been swept away, thus making the phrase useless.
Third France has been most vocal of trying to tie both German and French national security and economic interests together, anyone who has studied European history knows that Europe destroyed itself because of wars and national interest conflicting with eachother, the primary goal of the EU and Franco-German alliance has been to centralize power and policy to act in a collective interest for Europe as a whole with mixed results, the question is will Europe fall apart again into minor spheres of influence? Or can they solidify into something stronger? While many say it can't there are some signs of cooporation and development on this front, sadly these processes take time and effort in a world that's suddenly changing very quickly and with big players who already cleared this phrase on easy mode, mostly the US, China, India and Russia to a less degree.
There has to come a change in Europe, the question is from who and how, the USA can't be fully trusted, their loyalty only lies in how it benefits their national interest which is balanced by needing both a strong Europe but divided enough to not act against it's interests, despite their big military support for central Europe, it's in economic ties where long term interest of these nations lie, after Russian defeat the defence spending will drop and US interest will shift to other fronts, leaving only Germany and France to fill the void.
I stopped reading after your "for starters" paragraph which is absolute nonsense...
@@sleepete12 you mean to tell me that Poland, Ukraine, Lituania, Estonia, Latvia did not gain their spot back on the world map during ww1? Plz do tell me your understanding of history and share it with everyone else, I can't wait to be enlightened.
@@golagiswatchingyou2966 That's a good point to remember, Imperial Germany freed much of Eastern Europe from Russia, originally to be within their sphere of influence until they lost WW1 a year later.
@@dallinwalters6836 indeed
@@golagiswatchingyou2966 It was the UK and Scandinavia that was helping the Baltics become independent. In truth neither the French or Germans had much to do with it, and Germany at the time even had some interest in getting Baltics for itself, via proxy of the Baltic Germans. But as Estonians and Latvians were kicking some serious Baltic German ass the support from Germany to the Baltic Germans dried up.
It sounds like France had long trying to define itself by what it isn’t (playing hands to emphasize it isn’t under US or UK sway) at the expense of smaller players, allies, and at times itself
you going to analyse and understand 1000 years of history based on a rubbish oriented 20min video?
@@privatesale211 the most important subjects are briefly undertook in the video
@@privatesale211 the video wasnt focused on french history, but on france now, also Poland and France would make a really strong duo, both now and in history
Germans had the best engineers, the best artists, best philosophers, probably the best army, but also had the dumbest politicians and the dumbest spies.
The tradition continues :)
P.s the best soccer teams.
'Best philosophers', thanks for Marx and his ilk, buddy.
sounds made up and wrong... btw. the commie in this thread is correct - along side atrocity of 20th century - you gave the world the biggest rat: marx
@@AnonNomad Marx wasn't German though
@@AnonNomad he was a 🤥
@Tako D yes he was
It is always interesting to get an insight into a particular rabbit hole, in this case a decidedly anti-German one.
I accept that certain people have a very critical view of Germany, but that does not change the fact that some of the statements in the video are ridiculous.
One of the core statements of the video is that France should "become independent from Germany again". This is justified with a speech by de Gaulle from the early 1920s. Are they serious?
The geopolitical situation between France and Germany today is not remotely comparable to the situation 100 years ago. The rhetoric of Germany and France as hereditary enemies has been obsolete for almost 75 years... If the author of the video really held a rudimentarily realistic and not purely anti-German position, then he would have to acknowledge that France has to work closely with Germany.
But well, having studied the channel and the author of the video a little, I am hardly surprised at his positions. He also colourfully talks on Twitter about the dissolution of Germany... Always funny to see that ideologically some are still living 100 years ago.
Is his Twitter Account banned?
link the twit of the dissolution of Germany, please
I think the biggest problem with this channel is that the author was so desperate to copy the formula of Caspian Report, he didn't stop to consider what made the CR appeal to be as wide as it is, which is the pretence of impartiality. No, Shivram isn't unbiased at all, his soft spot for his native Azerbaijan and Turkey is very apparent, but still the guy does his damnest to come off as neutral as it gets.
This here never should have been released in English, because it's very clearly Polonocentric, arguments that are presented as objective truths may even well be so... but only in Poland. In Poland, pretty much everybody regardless of political affiliation considers France and Germany way too cozy with Putin (so much so the pro-opposition media tend to be very careful in their criticism of the two countries' position towards Russia in order not to automatically fall into rabid German-hating rants the leader of the incumbent populists is notorious for), so when uttered in Polish, the phrase "it only makes sense for France to ditch Russia in favor of Poland" sounds rather straight, but when translated into English, the international language, it provokes a very understandable "Why?".
Is a Czech person I have different view. France has proven itself historically as a very unreliable partner. Together with the UK they've thrown us overboard in 1939 to maintain "peace " with Germany. Tandem Germany - France will always prefer good relations with Russia to good relations with central Europe, because it's their material base. (France also has Africa). France and Germany are also the biggest source of European bureaucracy which is crippling our economy.
Central Europe has to co-operate militarily with the USA, they are the only true strategic partner, our geopolitical interests align.
France is a country still stuck in their colonial past when French was diplomatic language number one. But these times are long gone. France is still strong power but definitely not superpower. They need to adjust their policy to reality.
Like all eu country jealous of France, we are not a US puppets
It's funny to see how Germany is always pictured as the villain in your videos bro.
Villain isn't the right word, but certainly a weak link of Europe/EU in respect to security policy, yes, for sure.
@@Megalomaniakaal how do you came up with this conclusion?
@@flussigeswasser251 How could I not? Germany has been under funding it's military for far too long and ill-engineering economic and energy security ties with Russia for far too long.
Sure I can agree with the concept that economic ties with Russia can curb conflict and potentially build peace. But only if Germany actually retains some leverage in that situation.
Instead Germany just gave the entire leverage in that relationship to Russia and put some blinds on so as not to see where it was all going.🤦♂
@@Megalomaniakaal sure these are or were issues. The Military got a 100 Billion euro boost and the nato 2% spending target will be full filled in the future. Btw is Germany one of the biggest military operator on the nato east front, besides USA.
The energy issue is indeed a problem, but Germany isn’t the only victim, nearly the complete east of Europe is dependent on Russian gas, including Poland, Estonia, Latvia etc.
Besides these facts and figures, my main problem was how Germany is pictured as a enemy, that the French have to engage. I mean wtf, we ain’t no more in 1945. We should work together instead of thinking imperialistic.
@@flussigeswasser251 _"Military got a 100 Billion euro boost"_
A one time thing that solves very little if indeed anything at all, since Germany has a bigger problem than just funding: procurement. I.e. how it goes about acquiring things with the allotted money.
_"The energy issue is indeed a problem, but Germany isn’t the only victim, nearly the complete east of Europe is dependent on Russian gas, including Poland, Estonia, Latvia etc."_
Certainly, but no one of these others influence EU/Nato military or economic security by far as much yet(Poland will increasingly though for sure), and you might be overestimating just how dependent on gas some of these states are.
Estonia for an example is certainly dependent on Russian gas still(with no real alternative yet, tho there are some plans w.r.t. this), but also mostly relies on gas for things it can't really find alternatives for such as industrial use. We don't really heat our homes or fuel our stoves with natural gas. There are some households that do, but they are marginal.
Electricity has traditionally been from coal and oil shale not gas precisely for security reasons with wind getting ever increasing investments. I do wish the older populations would get smarter about nuclear, so they wouldn't be so irrationally afraid of it. Coal and oil shale use do need to end.
I think France isn't very interested in central european affairs as it see that 50% of the world GDP will be made in asia by 2030. And France has 2 million citizens in the indo-pacific, therefore projecting power and making alliance towards India and Indonesia is much more important than working its relations with Poland and other central european contries.
All you say is true up until last february. Now if Russia decides to threaten the whole security of Europe. We, France, have to change our objectives. I'm more reluctant about the current Polish government which is openly friendly with the french far right, anti EU and anti Nato. This is a big red flag for a better partnership between our nations.
But we may have to do both, alliance with India and Indonesia to counter China and a stronger partnership with Poland and others central european countries to counter Russian expansionism. The Russian agression changed the whole situation 6 months ago.
@@flavienrousselin3734 Russia doesn't have the military might to threaten the European union.
They are already struggling against Ukraine which isn't a powerful army so this is not tomorrow that they will march on Warsaw and Berlin you can sleep tight. ;)
@@tonyhawk94 True, their military is trash and heavily corrupt but I'm more anxious about their economic weapons. This all gas blackmail might be enough to attack us. If our economy go down our resolution to support Ukraine might go down as well. Russian people can support heavy sanctions and political oppression, they are used to it, not us... Russia might undermine European security, not militarily but economically... Which is still powerful enough to worry us.
50% of world’s gdp but not France”s. What you said sounds like “Rule Britannia” but French version, and, as the former chief of MI5 or 6 just said in an interview, this is ludicrous. We are not in 19th century anymore, there are cities in China with almost as many citizens the entire country of France has.
@@DerDop You didn't understand what i said.
Nations go where the growth is, not in a colonial fashion but simply to trade where there is money.
The closer you are to the centers of economic dynamic the best it is, just like the US has redevloped more westward now while the east is now the rustbelt.
GTBT AND Caspian Report post back to back same day? I guess my ex was serious with her death threats cause I must be in heaven
US are not there because they love Poles, Romanians or Estonians, but because it is an easy and morally upright way to further their own interests.
Why did the US save millions of Europeans, especially poles and Russians from starvation during and after ww1? What US interest did it serve to keep half of Europe from starving multiple times in the first half of the 20th century?
France can prove its a great power by winning the competition between the United States and South Korea in building new nuclear power plants in Poland and actually following through without wasting time and money, than Poland is significantly more independent from Russia and Germany which is what you want as France since Poland is the natural ally, you can extend this to other EU countries and build influence and increase trade, Europe will no longer rely on Ruzzian energy and be more sovereign.
Too bad France wants to dump their trash in Poland. Nobody wants their EPR after it nearly did a Chernobyl in China.
Excellent remark. In fact we should extend it to all european countries.
Agree but the closest ally of France is Germany, not Poland. Yes, we need to become energy independent from Russia and focus on further tying down the EU. But I also don't see why France would want to diminish dependencies between Poland and Germany.
@@rot7296 how can aside russia ? We dont have gas. Russia is more our allies than the US
@@pierren___ Seriously?
I consider France Czechia's second best historical ally, right after Romania
How about Slovakia?
Even if we shamefully let you down in 1938 ?
@@ukaszkowalski725 I consider Czechia and Slovakia to be the same entities during Czechoslovakia. Even if I didnt, I would still put them bellow Romania probably, Romania was always there for us during modern history
@@flavienrousselin3734 Looking back at it, it would probably be smart to fight Hitler in 1938 but I do understand that France didn't want to lose another generation to the G*rmans.
@@averagebohemian5791 I have to ask one more question. Would Poland be higher, than Germany?
This was extremely insightful and opened my eyes to dynamics and relationships I hadn't previously understood. Thank you
I love this channel and this is a good video. Unfortunately for Poland, France will always be the #2 industrial power (behind Germany) and the #2 natural resource provider (behind Russia) in Europe. France can try to use Poland to leverage their strength against Russia and/or Germany, but due to demographics and geography France and Poland will always have to give in to the will of either the USA/UK alliance, Germany, or Russia and neither will ever be in the driver's seat or have full control of their own geopolitical futures. In all honesty, the moment the USA stops providing security for Europe is the day Poland's future will be decided by either Germany or Russia. Poland will never have the population, resources, or geography to determine its own future and will be a chess piece for other nations until well past our lifetimes. Poland should do everything it can to tie itself to the USA, EU, France, then Germany in that order, because without significant security guarantees from the aforementioned players Russia will gobble up Poland for its own security needs. Ukraine is bleeding Russia as we speak, but that's only because the USA and others are pumping in billions of dollars worth of military technology, training, intelligence, etc. while also sanctioning the crap out of Russia. Poland would be much the same story. Even if France went all in they lack the military and industrial capacity to prop up Poland or Ukraine against Russia by themselves and would need either the USA or Germany to do the heavy lifting.
Poland has just ordered 360 Abrams Sepv3, currently orders 1000 k2pl with production in Poland, 500 himarsów, 1500 bvp badger, about 500 redback pl, k9 howitzers 650 pieces, 150 crabs, thousands of drones, satellite reconnaissance, has 250 leopards upgraded to a2pl standard, ordered from 32 f35, 45 f50 block 20 planes, has 1000 wolverines, crayfish and weapon systems. Poland does a lot, buying systems such as Wisła with patryjots, Wisła and pilica systems. A lot is being invested in the army, together with Sweden and Finland, Poland will soon be able to stop Russia in a conventional war.Considering only the tanks themselves, Poland is to have more than Germany, France and the UK combined, and these are the two best tanks in the world today, maybe even a Merkava ... Nobody in Poland wants war, we know what it is leading behind, but you cannot count on peace at any cost ... interesting times are coming, may humanity come to its senses ... Poland knows what it means to be under the foot of the Soviets, Poland must be strong or it won't be there at all.
I really dont get it that u see Germany as a rival. We despite or past where Germany did a lot of bad things to poland and poland taking Germany Land in return we are now on the same Page. Yes there are some different ideas and the focus is diffrent but we all try to archive the same. The German-polish trade is at an al time high. Also we needed cheap russian ressources to give our industry a chance to compete with China, USA and Japan. Without cheap russian Gas, oil, metal or ither stuff our economy would get less competetiv. Yes we should not focus all on russia and distribute it so we cant geg blackmailed by russia like we do right now with Gas but we need russia as a traiding Partner. So i see Germany, France and Poland on the same Page but with small diffrent ideas.
The german navy alone could wipe out poland. Nobody blinks a eye at polands military because it is so pathetic!
@@polska7497 That is why the Intermarium project would need to get a boost!
@@Texo333 I personally like Germans and fully believe that we are true allies and friends today, HOWEVER Germans always point to WW2, when In fact Poles and Germans have been at odds with each other since the medieval times, we are somewhat natural enemies and so there will always be at least some distrust, doesn’t help that Germans are extremely arrogant and yes that includes todays Germans.
Talks about Central Europe but proceeds to not highlight Central Europe but instead highlight and talk about Eastern Europe.
Both central and eastern european nations were highlighted there. Visegrád group is CE.
Poland and Romania are in Central Europe
What a bleary and misleading video.
Starting with the fact that century-old ideas and policies are mapped to current-day politics without any regard to all the progress that has occurred since then, to glossing over large swathes of history and cherry-picking facts that are supportive of your hypothesis.
Even taking all your statements at face value, it would still make no sense for France to undermine its current closest ally and biggest trade partner, especially since France is the primary driver in a push for a more united Europe.
All in all this video sounds more like a bitter pole that would like to see Germany suffer rather than someone presenting a case in favour of a stronger France.
While I agree with the idea that France needs to ally Central European states to balance out the UK-US alliance, I don't see how Poland is a natural ally for them. And if I were France I would prioritize Western European connections, like Spain and Italy
Because Poland puts a wedge between Germany and Russia which together annihilate France Influance-wise (Poland jurisdiction-wise) as history shows.
With strong Poland Germany needs to play nice with other "Western kids", which leaves Russia isolated. This enhances France's position in comparison. Poland is a loyal friend - just wants to be secure (Russo - german Alliance has always been the biggest detriment for that, so Poland will always pick France over Germany) . We would have no qualms with realising Frances political projects. Question is, what exactly are those. They keep conjuring up mirages of a unified european security structure (with France in the leading role). One wonders how they intend to achieve that, when alone they are the weakest of the 3 continental players and they refuse to sufficiently prop up prospects beneficial for them. I guess milking Africa and spewing empty words is good enough.
It` s kind of an old thinking, that france needs a counter weight to Germany.
This just proves again that we need something like the Intermarium in eastern Europe and the Balkans. Plisudski was right.
Poland ❤️ France
Sad that the politics of the French have let to many disasters we could have prevented, we could have been the strongest in europe together, but anyways I still love yall I know you meant well
@@Tho-ugh-t i hope things will improve in the future, from france 🇫🇷❤️
@@Tho-ugh-t we were in Warsaw in 1920 even if not in 1939, Hope to keep getting closer like in Napoleonci times.
Poland and Eastern Europe might have secured a stronger alliance with Paris by purchasing a few french weapons or by strengthening security bilateral ties in Sahel or in general.
France's biggest challenges are located south in the Mediterranean sea and in Africa.
Russia is often a rival there (in Mali or Centrafrica) but sometimes also a partner (Lybia, Egypt, Greece).
Let me give a French opinion here:
You make good points and the the connection of present to past French diplomacy is great to see but I have to bring some criticism.
The foreign policy you're describing is called "La Petite Entente" where French must unite Central Europe against the common threat that is Germany. It is true that it failed because anti-war sentiment was too high in France and we failed to protect countries like Czekoslovakia or Poland by comitting ourselves seriously. I lived with Polish people during years and I know some resent France for that betrayal.
But it would have never worked and i'm mostly gonna rely on a book on the treaty of Versailles. It's a book a French historian and Royalist Jacques Bainville wrote as a response to Keynes book "The Economic Consequences of Peace" that he called "The Political Consequences of Peace". If you like prophecy, the exact events from 36 to 39 were described in 1919 by Bainville. Just like Keynes, he considered the Treaty of Versailles as terrible and told that the war would be back in 20 years.
The main point of Bainville is that if the German unite, there is no power that can stop them on the European plains, keeping Germany intact politicaly keeps it a the main power of Central Europe and spreading German speaking people on other countries just give them the necessary casus belli to invade. Bainville stressed that the full might of Central Europe was not enough and especially Poland. He stressed that allying with Poland will just bring us into the war without Poland bringing anything except a few weeks of delay. It only works if Germany is divided according to Bainville and that is the true spirit behind the treaty of Westphalia where the balance of power was at the center.
Long gone is the Polish-Lituanian Commonwealth, Central Europe is not a possible counterweight for Germany, it is German's playground, vassal states to its economic power.
As De Gaulle did with Russia, maybe we should ally with China if only they could be trusted. I'm at loss for what should be done for France but the return of The Little Entente view is not the way according to me. Maybe a Latin group with Spain and Italy is interesting.
Ah yes, fear that Central Europe would become too much independent and economical power house. It reminds me of 1939. The only reason why France isn't collapsed state are those African colonies. France is like tank with back mirror...good at driving backwards and occasionally stabbing some allies on the way.
CCP is in its core an ultranationalist party and could never be trusted.
Or you could ally with Germany? Sorta like you already do? Kind of a simple solution, don't you think?
I don't understand why you go through all these philosophical lengths to float a potential alliance with China without first justifying the need to counterbalance Germany in the first place. They seem not to be doing much of anything these days.
Nie rozumiem " sprzymierzenie się z polską tylko sprowadzi wojnę". Ona i tak była nieunikniona, gdybyśmy zaatakowali Niemcy pierwsi albo chociaż Francja i Wielka Brytania pomogły Polsce w 1939 to 2 wojny światowej by nie bylo.
@@angry6254 Sadly there was no political will nor military doctrine efforts to push for an offensive in 1939. Would have been even better to prevent Rhenany remilitarization of 36 but same England and France prefered to preserve peace at all cost as they were incapable of understanding Hitler and they wre even less prepared at that time.
Baltic States are located in Northern Europe. Stop grouping us with Eastern / Central Europe.
Sources:
UNESCO,
EuroVoc,
Committee for International Cooperation in National Research in Demography,
The STW Thesaurus for Economics
We (Poles) know the pain, being by geography in central Europe, still often considered to be "Eastern" A lot of people still refers to past division (western-free Europe-Warsaw Pact countries/Soviet) .
Every time I hear it I cry a little, we don't wanna be by any means associated with barbaric Moscovians.
And I also quietly laugh thinking of all my north-American friends still listing Czechoslovakia among EU countries XD
Why do you refer to Comonwealth as Poland? Comonwealth was multiethnic state, where multiethnic Lithuanian state was also an important part. Also in Your refered European region, Poland is only one of many states. But yes, with current situation in Germany, France and Russia countries in region will naturally cooperate more with other like-minded countries, who do not compromise their sovereignty, security and growing prosperity.
The official name of Poland today is the *Third Commonwealth/Republic of Poland (III Rzeczpospolita Polska* in Polish; Res Publica in Latin = Republic aka Commonwealth in English).
The U.K. France and Poland desperately need more cooperation. Perhaps from central and Southern Europe too if possible.
Yeah, a European Alliance of some kind would be nice. Sadly, such thing currently doesn't exist...
In the context of Ukraine, it is worth pointing out that the Franco-Polish alliance resulted in the destruction of the West Ukrainian People's Republic, when Haller's Blue Army, equipped by the French with modern military equipment and led by French officers attacked the Ukrainian Galician Army, after the Chorkiv offensive.
Only unity among the nations of Eastern Europe will be conducive to autonomy of action for the Poles, Ukrainians, and others. Relations with other powers, especially France and Germany, and to a lesser extent the UK and the US are best approached from a position of Eastern European strength and unity. Brussels, Paris, and Berlin can be unreliable partners, and only when Eastern Europe assures them that they cannot afford to fail to take Eastern interests to heart, will European politics and geopolitics respect Eastern and Central Europe.
I swear France has the nerve to try to gain influence after US and Britain saved its existence😂
@@biodidu25 The favor was repaid in WWI. Then your political leaders forced the worst peace arrangement in modern European history and set the stage for a second war. France collapsed completely that time, and De Gaulle thanks the allies by riding into Paris on an American tank, and then delivering a speech claiming, and I’m directly quoting him, “France has liberated herself”. Then France milks the US for Marshall plan money, and lets not forget the bailout of the Franc in the 1950s, our assisting your colonial holding in Vietnam and then pulling out the second after we show up to help… but do go on about the founding of the US as if it wasn’t in your own interests to swipe at the UK after losing Canada just a few decades prior.
Unlike any other nation with as long a history, France has a long memory for the debts owed to them, but no memory of its own debt to others.
@@biodidu25 Let’s review basic WWI history: Russia exited early because a revolution broke out. That revolution broke out because the Russian war effort was a complete disaster, one of many following the previous disaster of the Ruso-Japanese war. So how them leaving before the war ended, giving Germany more troops for the Western front, contributed to France’s liberation is an interesting spin. Are they teaching that at Sciences Po now? As for France and the UK, you were at stalemate, fighting for a few miles at a time at most, and you weren’t taking it to the Germans, you were fighting mostly in your own territory, not Germany. You don’t see significant gains until the US arrived in the final years and supplied the needed personnel and materials to force Germany to the treaty table.
To ignore the issues with the treaty assumes Hitler came out of thin air. Why do you think the Germans wanted to annex land? It was taken from them after WWI. Why did Austria want to join Germany? Because their empire was demolished by the treaty and they were left with no identity. France inserted the clause to force the Hapsburgs to step down, something many Austrians are still a bit upset about today I might add. Two long-standing enemies of French imperialism were targeted, and you don’t think that upset anyone? The whole war was just to kill Jews? No, of course they responded in kind. You want to know a major reason why this didn’t happen again after WWII? The US Marshall plan forced the Europeans to have to work together and agree to how the aid would be divided or no one would get anything. This eventually led to the EEC, which was the predecessor of the EU.
As for Russia’s part in WWII. Yes, they sure sacrificed a lot of people, but lend-lease gave them materials needed to actually start the counter-offensive instead of holding the line. I don’t discount the UK and Canada’s part in the Western campaign either, but to pretend that overshadowed US efforts is petty.
And if that were all, maybe you would have a point. But considering France still owes the US, under treaty, sizeable amounts of money from loans and bailouts covering economic downturns long after WWII, debts you don’t even have the curtesy to pay interest on, yes, we expect more from France. But again, let’s look outward to see the other messes France has made for others to clean up and suffer the consequences.
Moving into more recent history, past US presidents even tried to let France take the lead. How did that work out in Bosnia as your troops let the serb militias massacre those children? The people in Sarajevo didn’t seem to care much for the “peacekeeping” forces you sent, who watched as mortar after mortar fell on their city. Maybe we should look at Libya? Why did we overthrow that regime? France had an ax to grind and left Italy, Malta, Spain and Greece to deal with the aftermath of instability. Or maybe France could get Saddam to stop from threatening to invade Kuwait? That didn’t work. Or maybe help Lebanon rebuild after years of instability? Ah yes, I remember the boos and chants of the crowd as Macron arrived in Beruit a few years ago. Oh, and we can’t forget West Africa. How is Mali doing these days? Didn’t France push out all the terrorists? Or did it go in, get bored, and leave it to collapse again? The African Union has complained so. In fact, some would say France’s abrupt pull out destabilized the entirety of sub-saharan africa, which has led to multiple coups across the continent. What about Macron’s ability to get Russia to stop its war in Ukraine?
We could even talk about why the EU’s common defense goals keep failing due to French intransigence about who gets to build to planes and who gets the subsidies. Or the common agricultural policy also happens to help France more than nations that actually desperately need aid like Croatia, Romania or Bulgaria.
And I could continue to talk about your colonial holdings in the South Pacific wanting to leave so France will stop milking them of their mineral wealth, but this post is long enough, although you didn’t have a response about Saipan or the Franc bailout…
See, it isn’t just France’s neighbors and the US that take issue with people like De Gaulle who would ruin a treaty if France doesn’t get its way on every point, or would leave their allies the second it becomes slightly inconvenient, it’s the broader global community. France has a long memory of the good things it has done, but none memory of its debts. While no nation is perfect, France is unique in that I have yet to hear a French President take responsibility for anything negative. Hitler shows up? Ah those Germans were all fascist jew haters anyway (let’s hope no one remembers the Dreyfus affair). Algeria wants independence? Must be those Americans undermining our empire with the CIA! Saipan wants independence too? We’ll threaten to unalign ourselves with the West if the US doesn’t send troops. If it doesn’t work out, we’ll say it was an American war. It’s not France’s protectionism that is sucking money out of the EU’s CAP program, those Bulgarians are just being bitter!
The only reason Germany needs a counter-weight in Europa is french pride. I think Germany understands very well that without it there is no EU, led alone by the geographical point of view. And therefore has taken the role of the mediator between all interests.
Great video. De Gaul was really on point. Here's hoping Fance wakes up... Though I imagine it will take more than a few op eds to change their minds unfortunately. Kudos! More like this.
I live in France and my Geopolitics teacher told me that every social change moves happens very slow. For exemple it is still a big taboo to talk about the Algerian War of Independence; giving citizenship to arab soldiers that fought for free france in WW2 or Dreyfus Incident, the latter started being tought at school no so long ago.
Even criticizing the army or President is Constitutionally illegal amd morally wrong in France, as you will probably get cenzored and the public outcry will end your life.
@@cristianbalan518 how is that taboo when you hear about these subjects constantly ? watch TV. in France you are free to criticise anything and anyone and nothing will happen to you so please dont come here to spit lies.
@@privatesale211 I have a friend that stidies law in France and her teacher told her she should write anything bad about the president in her write works. So in legal documents by specialists, not press my friend, you shall say nothing bad about Macron.
@@cristianbalan518 oh you have a friend.....thats a very convincing argument. that teacher is just a macron supporter thats it. there are numerous books, TV shows etc that speak badly of the president, there is no law against that
@@privatesale211 Good, nice argument. I'll surrender. Thanks for showing me otherwise
It's remarkable how forward this creator was to their source. The honesty is appreciated.
i knew that degaulle hated the US. i didn't know why until now. thank you for the history & background.
France never had any attachment to Poland. Poles should know this. Poland serves an important geographic location that acts in favor to the french interest. France wouldn't do shit if tomorrow Poland get *Poland* by its neighbors. Those French investments and deals are only to benefit the French companies and businesses not to help the Poles. France is only using Poland to aggravate Germany and Russia, for its own power and importance in the European affairs. French would only feel sorry for the fallen Polish state, *French interest at the expense of Poland, Sad Polandball*
You talking about the Bri'ish i see? France
actually almos was a good ally, but I appreciate them nontheles
It's not the 1930's anymore, if even a russian shrapnel land in polish territory i can assure you France will not back down. Our doctrine as completely changed after DeGaulle, what you should be worried about is your country buying sh*tty American plane instead of any grippen rafale eurofigter or even do your own plane, poland as so much potential, and the more your country will buy to the us, the less it will be able to be capable itself
I assure you, if France or Germany were as influential as this video purports, the war in Europe would have already ended. I think it's cute that Macron thinks he and France has agency on where geopolitics is moving.
There is no shame in trying
France and Germany are influential you just can't deny it.
@@ni9274 Influential... how? You think they have say in the war stopping? The war continuing? It's been humiliating watching the Germans flail. We expected them to be leaders. And the French? On the one hand they only barely didn't elect that sociopath Marine Le Pen, on the other they picked Macron. What good he's been.
@@drhelmut3467 No, of course not. It's good. The problem is what comes before and after. Let's put it this way; no matter how this war ends, it's clear what regard Ukrainians will hold the French and Germans.
@@headoverheels88When you’re the prime minister/president of 5th/7th more powerful country in the world and have a nuclear arsenal you have influence.
Bravo!
Une approche particulière de la diplomatie Française malheureusement biaisée. La France à travers la construction Européenne à choisi son principal partenaire, l'Allemagne. Si on peut imaginer que l'Europe est un prétexte permettant à la France d'avoir un certain contrôle sur les autres pays européens, pourquoi ne pas se rendre compte que les États-Unis font de même au travers de leurs soutiens militaires ? (= vente matériel = plus de contrôle sur chaque pays fournis. Aucun pays ne fait les choses gratuitement et certainement pas les États-Unis, qui restent de grands alliés de la France, malgré plusieurs coups de couteau dans le dos (cf sous-marin Australiens).
I m french and I strongly disagree on your opinion that the Villepin discours in 2003 on the non intervention in the irak war is not a example of franco-arab ties but it s the showcase of the excellence of French intelligence agencies who new that Irak didn't have weapon of mass destruction WMD , and new that Colin Powell was a liar.
I will admit that France is strongly invested in arab relation, and I m not really fan of that. ( I m a strong supporter of Israel ) a better example could have been Sarkozy who invite Kadhafi in Paris.
But 2003 Irak was a terrible decision who turn arab world against Nato ,
Powell and Bush should be in jail for me it s war crime
If your are against Russian invasion in 2022 you should also be against 2003 US coalition invasion
Both brandish false WMD accusation for starting the war.
Bush said that Irak was supporting of Al-Qaïda and it was a lie
Poutine say that Ukraine is a Nazi state , also a lie
2003 was the start of the failure on GWOT ( global war on terror ).
Do your lesson please, I love your work but keep your shoes straight , no double standard
Iraq war was a huge mistake of the west. Our enemies/haters can always fall back on that argument. Also, it created Isis
Intereting point. What are your views on the supposed failure of French Intelligence with regards to the start of the Ukrainian-Russian conflict? What changed over this time?
How can you not see those wars were started for Israël ?
@@charliemelly6723 20 years have passed. Our secret services have been divided (dgsi, dgse) so they are not good anymore.
@@charliemelly6723 certainly France had facilities to devellop human intelligence and growing a network of assets thanks to the connection with Libanon marroco algeria tunisia ... and helped by all the financial connexion
I m not an expert but this is my guess
Funny, how I, a German, thought that, what you call 'Central Europe', was Eastern Europe.
It is. Gotta remember this is a polish channel tho.
@@alexanderrose1556 Maybe you ought to take a look at map of Europe. It ends at Urals, not in Belarus.
Is it similar to some US people thinking everything south of them is "Latin America" (or worse, south America) and that we "latins" (I'm Colombian) are all the same, ignoring all other geo and cultural distinctions?
That's telling but not surprising.
Depends on your definition. You can horizontally divide Europe in two ways: one way is west/central/east, the other is west/east.
I for example used to think that Austria is Western Europe and Czech Republic Eastern Europe. Looking at where Vienna and Prague are situated, this makes no sense. We often have our brains wired in terms of the old 'Eastern Bloc' and 'Western Europe'. Geographically, I nowadays use the term Eastern Europe for countries like Romania and Ukraine, while Czech Republic solidly lies in Central Europe, as does Austria, by the way
Thank you for another amazing video.
Interesting
Poland + Korean weapons collaboration = success
It's important to diverisfy your's equipment as with many other things in case one of the side woudn't like longer to support you
I don't agree. Poland should support local market. Will Korea help Poland with Russia? I don't think so
@@Adriano70911 Poland is a small and not a totalitarian country gave enough big budget to invest only in it's equipment.
Buying equipment is cheaper than funding some projects that would last many years and the polish politics about funding is utterly horrendous. But that's what you get in the post communist country with the elites that are still squabling over power and throwing out to the bin every project that or dramatically different hampering the funds for R&D to give money to the people as the good populists do and to cement their popularity and influence.
@@Adriano70911 niemcy?
Indeed there is no logic France to play together with Russia.
Yes, there is one.
Europe can stand for itself without the US
How could ex-communist countries from Eastern Europe agree and support France when we clearly see that Russia holds France by the jewels and that almost half of the french people have ultra-nationalistic/communist views? At least Germany's pleasing policy towards Russia is fueled by its energy dependence, unlike France's which is fueled by the society.
Looks like the distrust of Romanians in France and Germany is huge. As a Romanian, I thought I was among the few in having this attitude.
I have to say even though I do not agrre with everythinng this report said
It was rather prophetic concerning the potential revolution mentionned at the end
Especially now with all the mass protests of millions of Frenchman in the steets throughout France😅😅😅
If france wants to engage with central europe, it needs to continue to improve its english proficiency, which is the closest thing the region has to a common language and is a key advantage that germany and the united states has in the region. It should throw it's weight behind romania and bulgaria joining shengen. The rhine danube corridor is frances best way to gain economic influence in the panonian basin, the black sea and ukraine, that is not dependent on turkish good will. Trans carpathian infrastructure needs to be kicked into high gear, because if europe doesn't build it then china will and will attempt to favor it's own exports in the region to the detrement of the european peoples.
There is also a surprisingly high rate of German proficiency throughout due to seasonal guest workers
@@jensboettiger5286 a similar amount to russian in the older population. English is still bigger than both combined however.
France is obsessed with its colonial background, she must give up and needs to focus on its nation
we don't need counterweights in the EU
we need to work together
Thank you. This is the best answer so far!
You didn't mention Romania and its important place in the France foreign policy
looking at your other comments youre really 🤡
Oh, interesting to see France is as bad on the Russia problem as Germany is. Germany also has a former head of government as a Russian oligarchy board member 😅
The Germans are too pacifist and the French are too french
France, always ahead of itself, and always behind everyone else.
Cries in free healthcare and quality of life.
@@drhelmut3467 Don't mistake me, French People, Language, Culture and Cuisine are peerless and will always have a place in my heart. That said, the Government of France, that is the French State, has always had bigger ideas than it has had capability in execution.
That young De Gaulle was quite a prophet: 6:30 - 9:30.
Russia needs to split into several states. One of the few imperial powers still together.
Splitting never works, partition them thats all
So, this video is about the French fear of loosing importance about world politics.
It is right. France can't challenge China and neither the USA.
Neither can Britain or Germany.
But I think you are wrong at your conclusion. France isn't getting weaker by committing itself more to the European idea. Within Europe France is getting stronger than what it ever can be alone. Now since Britain left the EU Frances importance and power has become stronger and without the opposing British political ideas France and the other European countries don't have to make all these compromises for the Anglicans.
France is one of the strongest partners in the EU and in the NATO.
And since the European Union and it's predecessors formed the thread for another useless war between Germany and France is down.
Poland that was a strong ally for France is questionable as an ally at all.
As you said it went into Irak with the USA for its self interest for US money. And today Polands political leadership is on a course out of the European Idea and it lost over the last years many ideas it shared with France.
Where Poland is going now as an ally is hard to say as the Ukraine war might be a deciding moment for further Polish commitment either in the EU or if it starts to rely stronger on the USA.
If Poland turns away from the EU it also turns away from France as I believe for Poland the most important issue is the help from Russian aggression. Right now for Ukraine but also in the process to get back what Poland quickly shared with their neighbors.
I see Poland right now a bit as an indicator if we can keep the EU together or if it will split up.
I don't know that much about Frances commitment towards Polish security interests. But what I know is Germans are too small that Poland feels heard from the EU.
And Germany and France are two countries with many similarities who are also the leading countries in the European Union.
idk, france had let down poland many times
this
"Why die for Danzig?" immediately comes to mind.
@@barbariandude dont spread fake information like that, nobody listened to that "why die for danzig" nazi bullshit, France spend the next 5 years being occupied BECAUSE it was willing to die for polish Gdansk.
When ? Except 1940’s which is the most shameful times in our history
@@SchusT45 starting with the elected french king, who fled the throne the minute he could get the french one, other examples are mentioned in the video
Starting at 17:03 this is a very strong point goddamn
As a French passionate about History and especially Napoleonic Era, i totally agree on the fact that poland is the oldest and greatest ally in Europe.
Poland needs to be strong and we need to help each other.
BUT, the European Union is a system that profits mainly to Germany, EU politics threatens our agriculture, our finances, it doesnt allow us to expel Foreign terrorists, criminals and murderers or even expel illegal immigrants.
The EU ideologists wants to promote multiculturalism and the Islamisation of Europe, thats why we stand against EU, this politic system prevent us from applying our OWN law, on on our OWN territory.
I think Europe needs a greater leadership and strong/happy/wealthy Eastern Europeans, becaause we all belong to the same civilisation and need to help each other in this century that is gonna be very tough.
EU doesn't want the Islamisation of Europe, and France is profiting greatly from the EU.
@@ni9274 didnt you see propaganda Images from the EU showing woman wearing Hijab ?
Why EU doesn't make laws to prevent mass immigration from Islamic States ?
Why EU doesn't allow us to expel or execute Terrorists that kill people by saying: "Allahu Akbar"
Why the EU allow so much Mosque to be built?
"From Lisbon to the Oural mountains" not vladyvostok
and in spite of all of this, Germany seems to be more interested in appeasing and doing business with the Russian Federation...
Never interrupt your enemy while they are making a mistake
@@jensboettiger5286 ...so now they are your enemy? I have no idea how the EU stays together. Y'all are such a basket of snakes, still hung up on your petty little squabbles.