The German delegation passed through Paris without being hindered by the student strikes taking place on the streets of Paris.
asserted
delegation → pass → Paris
The motorcades moved through the French capital without disruption.
asserted
motorcades → move → disruption
Due to the high-profile visit, the streets were cordoned off over a wide area.
asserted
streets → cordone → area
Emmanuel Macron had decided on a special gesture to send off Frank-Walter Steinmeier, his German guest: The military honors took place under the Arc de Triomphe.
asserted
honors → decide → Triomphe
And so, early in the morning, the German national anthem rang out in the heart of Paris — amid sunshine and bitter cold.
asserted
anthem → ring → sunshine
It was a generous gesture of friendship and symbolism, yet it seemed to be from a bygone era.
asserted
it → seem → era
In both countries, populists on the political fringes are gaining support.
asserted
populists → gain → support
In Germany, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) ranks first in nationwide polls.
asserted
Alternative → rank → polls
In France, Emmanuel Macron could soon be succeeded by either Jean-Luc Melenchon of the far left or Marine Le Pen of the far right.
uncertain
Macron → succeed → right
Added to this is an economic crisis that threatens prosperity.
asserted
that → add → prosperity
Unresolved issues of social justice are driving younger generations into the streets.
asserted
issues → drive → streets
At the same time, social media is increasingly becoming a tool of disinformation and "accelerating doubts about democracy," Macron said in Paris.
asserted
Macron → become → Paris
While the AfD may soon form its first state government in Saxony-Anhalt, President Steinmeier remained confident.
uncertain
Steinmeier → form → Anhalt
He insisted that Germany would continue to "play a leading role in Europe" in the future and that Germans would remain good Europeans.
asserted
Germans → insist → future
But he did not say where he drew this certainty from.
asserted
he → say → certainty
Questions from journalists were not permitted at the joint press conference at the Elysee Palace.
asserted
Questions → permit → Palace
Both Macron and Steinmeier lack a "genuine agenda for Germany, France, and Europe."
asserted
Macron → lack → Germany
Both represent political systems that "seek to respond to 21st-century crises with 20th-century solutions," said the expert on German-French relations at the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP).
asserted
expert → represent → Relations
Even though Steinmeier and Macron have different political styles, Ross sees parallels — especially where their policies have failed.
asserted
policies → have → parallels
One example of this is strategic foreign policy issues, such as dealing with Russia.
asserted
example → deal → Russia
"For a long time, they pursued a policy based on integrating Russia into Europe, and then both were overwhelmed by the events of 2022 and had to adjust their course," said Ross.
asserted
Ross → pursue → course
Since then, both have merely reacted to current affairs, according to the political scientist.
uncertain
both → react → scientist
Little support for Macron's ideas
Emmanuel Macron has made some bold moves for Europe, but without support from Berlin, says Ross.
asserted
Ross → make → Berlin
Germany's political leadership has long reacted with caution to proposals from Paris.
asserted
leadership → react → Paris
A joint initiative that both countries recently promoted to the European Commission is aimed at combating unfair competition.
asserted
countries → promote → competition
Countries that gain an advantage through unfair practices should face strict European measures.
asserted
that → gain → measures
Macron joined German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in speaking out in favor of this.
asserted
Macron → join → this
Although China was not explicitly named, the initiative is seen to be primarily aimed at that country.
asserted
initiative → name → country
Beijing uses enormous subsidies to support its companies, whose products flood the European market, while European firms continue to face barriers when trying to access the Chinese market.
asserted
firms → use → market
Germany and France have also long sought greater cooperation in the defense sector.
asserted
Germany → seek → sector
Yet major joint defense projects are making little progress.
asserted
projects → make → progress
When the planned joint fighter jet, the FCAS, fell through in June, officials emphasized ongoing cooperation on the future MGCS main battle tank.
asserted
officials → plan → tank
And yet differences on this became apparent during the state visit.
asserted
differences → become → visit
As German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius arrived in Paris, French Chief of the General Staff Fabien Mandon stated during a hearing in the French National Assembly that Germany had decided to withdraw from the tank project.
asserted
Germany → arrive → project
A day later, Mandon clarified that he had expressed himself ambiguously.
asserted
he → clarify → himself
But some observers believe that such misunderstandings are a sign of dissatisfaction on both sides — below the political level — regarding cooperation with the other partner.
asserted
misunderstandings → believe → partner
It is this political level that often ends up having to set the record straight in such cases.
asserted
that → end → cases
This time was no exception: Pistorius firmly refuted the claim that the project was on the verge of being scrapped.
uncertain
project → refute → verge
"The MGCS project is not over; it is not dead; it has not been terminated by anyone — quite the contrary.
asserted
it → terminate → anyone
It is a core project of Franco-German cooperation on land systems," said the German defense minister.
asserted
minister → say → systems
…and 19 more, not listed.
The Aporia
