Macron: We Must Save the NATO Soldier!

Ground troops? Macron’s True Project

Macron’s statement about not ruling out the ‘deployment of (French) ground troops in Ukraine’ (29 February 2024) caused quite a stir. It was described as a mad gesture, or at best, an attempt to ‘be interesting’. The latter isn’t entirely incorrect as Macron remains the actor he once wished to be, albeit on a much smaller scale. However, he doesn’t speak as a private individual. He is a head of state, or what’s left of it, with the significant disadvantage of committing the fate of our people. Hence, the need to look beyond the highly invigorating irony of teams like Mozinor in their talented parody ‘Trouposol’.

What does Macron want? Firstly, to divert attention from his remarkable unpopularity in domestic politics. His visit to the Agriculture Show nearly resembled the worst moments (for him) of the Yellow Vests crisis. By escalating drama and fear in foreign politics, Macron makes the French populace forget how much his policy — and even he himself — is detested.

The second aim of Macron’s statement is to be taken literally, focusing on foreign policy. To recap the context: in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, it has become clear that Ukraine cannot win. What does this mean? It won’t regain lost territories, let alone Crimea, and if the war persists, it will lose more territories (Odessa?) — which it could have avoided by negotiating in 2022, a course the USA dissuaded it from, being ready to support Ukraine to the last Ukrainian.

However, Ukraine’s failure is primarily NATO’s failure. Macron had already declared this alliance ‘brain dead’ (8 November 2019). Some saw this as a new form of Gaullism. It was not. It was preparation for a handover. What can NATO do now? Delay or even prevent peace between Russia and Ukraine. That’s what NATO, meaning Washington and its lackeys, has done since 2022, achieving NATO’s only true success. Prolonging the war and isolating Europe from Russia, a situation Europe suffers from more than Russia. That was the goal.

Macron: Agent of American Capital

Thus, the objective is to continue NATO’s work but Europeanise it. That is Macron’s project, his mission. Why? Because it aligns with the interests of International Capital, closely tied to American interests. Macron is the man of Capital, currently heading the French section of the International Capital. Macron is inevitably, first and foremost, an agent of American capital, as it dominates global capitalism. When the periphery is doomed, it must be sacrificed to save the core.

That’s why, after destroying French industry following Hollande, Macron aims to dismantle what remains of industry in Europe, and hence German industry. It’s happening: American gas costs Germans six times more than Russian gas. Consequently, their industry is no longer competitive, leading to the relocation of German industry to the USA. That’s why Macron did not oppose the ‘sanctions’ policy against Russia, which were essentially self-sanctions against Europe.

Do not imagine for a moment that Macron is unintelligent. He knew what he was doing. His mission? To save capitalism. To stem the decline in profit rates. Thus, primarily to save American capitalism. In this sense, Macron is doing the ‘job’. Europe stripped of its last industries (9% of GDP in France corresponds to industry, leaving little to liquidate), plundered by the USA — that is the interest of international capitalism and thus Macron’s goal, since he is one of its authorised agents and its ‘delegate for France’. Had there been crumbs available for national French capitalism, Macron wouldn’t fundamentally object, but that’s no longer feasible. ‘No worries’, as managers say. France and Europe are sacrificed.

A Neo-NATO to Accelerate European Decline

That’s why Macron wants a neo-NATO. To create tension, silence domestic opposition, and prepare minds for a possible war, if it is ever in the interest of Americans. This is the essence of Macron’s remarks about the potential deployment of French (and European) ground troops, as well as the potential Europeanisation of our strike force, a notion that has been discussed for years (Marc Finaud and Grégoire Mallard, ‘The Europeanisation of French Deterrence: A Dangerous Idea Doomed to Fail’, La Tribune, 18 February 2020).

After having the Ukrainians die for American interests, i.e. severing the ties between Russia and Europe, Macron’s idea of a Europeanised neo-NATO would be to have Europeans killed to accelerate their own decline and servitude to a rejuvenated America. Recall, from the American perspective, what was ‘terrific’ about World War Two was Germany and Russia mutually annihilating each other.

Another minor, yet significant advantage of Macron’s declaration: to create a French anti-Russian ‘patriotism’ and portray the National Rally (RN) as pro-Russian, with any anti-war position being deemed pro-Russian. Hence Gabriel Attal’s statement: ‘The RN supports Russia more than Ukraine.’ (5 March 2024). Any party not aligning with Macron’s warmongering stance is labelled pro-Russian. And more than La France Insoumise, it’s the RN that’s targeted, aiming at the European elections of spring 2024, but even more so at the presidential elections. While the RN has continually normalised and made concessions to Atlanticists, big capital, and even the EU, it’s not yet (or no longer) the oligarchy’s first choice.

However, the debate goes far beyond petty politics. The future of our European peoples is at stake. Controlling immigration, reindustrialisation, and a self-centred economy, as well as boosting the birthrate of natives — these are vital imperatives for the peoples of Europe. In 1945, Stalin said, ‘The Nazis come and go but Germany remains.’ Yet, it was necessary to expel the Nazis. When Europeans rid themselves of Macron and other agents of the International Capital, Europe can revive.