French President Emmanuel Macron is back at the center of global diplomacy, seeking to ease relations with President Donald Trump, championing a Ukraine peace plan alongside his British counterpart, and seeing his longstanding desire to boost European defense turning into reality.

As the European Union’s only nuclear power and its most effective military, France has a decisive role to play.

As EU capitals line up behind the message that Europe must guarantee its own security, French President Emmanuel Macron could be forgiven for thinking… “I told you so”. It is a message Macron has repeatedly drummed home since coming to power in 2017: Europe must be more self-sufficient on defence and break free from dependence on the United States.

France Defies Trump’s Warning. As the U.S. wavers on military support for Ukraine, French President Emmanuel Macron steps up, announcing a €195 million ($211 million) military aid package for Kyiv. French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu confirmed the aid will fund critical deliveries of 155-mm artillery shells and AASM gliding bombs for Ukraine’s Mirage 2000 fighter jets.

French President Emmanuel Macron will address the nation on Wednesday evening to try and soothe voters' concerns over the new U.S. administration's upending of the international order. European countries are scrambling to boost defence spending and maintain support for Ukraine after President Donald Trump froze U.