Emmanuel Macron's pursuit of Gaullist policies and conflicts within the Transatlantic Alliance

Emmanuel Macron, representing the newly formed party 'En Marche' and advocating for centrist policies, successfully won the presidency in 2017, gaining popularity among the French population. After taking office, President Macron implemented economically right-leaning policies while also bolstering welfare programs as part of an expansion of left-leaning social initiatives. In terms of foreign policy, he positioned himself as an ideological successor to President de Gaulle, who led the Fifth Republic of France. He strategically utilized the transatlantic alliance's division caused by President Trump in executing his foreign policy, aiming to establish a 'New European Order' with fellow Europeans. Additionally, after the UK's Brexit referendum, he worked towards expanding France's influence in Europe, following the traditional Gaullist path that lies at the core of French right-wing ideology. This study analyzes how President Macron effectively demonstrated the strengthening of France's position, in line with the principles of Gaullism, amid the shifting dynamics of the European order. This was achieved through the deepening of European integration, the collaborative construction of Europe by Europeans, the enhancement of strategic autonomy, and the prioritization of security within the EU over NATO. Ultimately, President Macron incorporated a significant portion of the Gaullist approach into his foreign policy, aiming for an independent and self-reliant European policy for France. He sought to implement this Gaullist approach through the EU, working to empower France to make decisions and take action independently in its relations with the United States. This study illustrates his efforts to enable the EU to operate autonomously in matters of diplomacy, security, and defense.