U.S. President Donald Trump mocked French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife last April, claiming that his wife Brigitte treats him “very badly” and that Macron is “still recovering from a hit” or a “punch” from her. This came in response to Paris’s refusal to participate in military operations against Iran.

This is not the first time Trump has mocked Macron. During his first term, he sarcastically criticized his handling of crises on the platform “X,” taking advantage of the problems he was facing due to mass protests over additional taxes the government was seeking to impose on fuel.

The divorce has happened

There is no chemistry between the two men, even though France and the United States are positioned within what is known as the Western alliance, and they fought side by side in two world wars. The French American divergence has become public, and the issue of the Strait of Hormuz and France not allowing American fighter jets to pass through its airspace is not a marginal matter. The split between the two sides has already taken place, and what was impossible yesterday has now become possible and even necessary. This explains, for some, the diplomatic shuttle efforts undertaken by Macron aimed at consolidating French presence and perhaps containing American influence.

France’s demands are no longer limited to establishing a European army outside NATO in order to remove the American military umbrella from European protection. Under Macron, Paris has expanded its mission. Observers noted Macron dancing to the song “Hakuna Matata” during his reception ceremony in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, where the France Africa summit titled “Africa Forward” began, aiming to reinforce French presence on the African continent after a series of setbacks to France’s historic role in several African countries under American supervision.

Of course, this involvement will not present France in the role of a colonial power that once facilitated America’s entry into the continent, but rather as a partner. The French government has defined its priorities for cooperation with Africa, which include increasing investment and strengthening cooperation in health, education, food, and digital technology, taking advantage of Washington’s preoccupation with priorities such as securing protection for its protégé Israel and advancing the ambitions of its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Macron’s dance

What observers focus on is not so much Macron’s dance, but rather his running exercise in Alexandria during his visit to the Egyptian city, part of a broader trip to Egypt aimed at strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries. The visit carries historical dimensions, as it seeks to reinforce the friendship between France and Egypt dating back to the era of Abdul Wali Said and the early reign of Ismail. For France, Egypt represents a space of memories and interests, as Napoleon once landed on its soil, and it was there that the largest project of its time was built, the Suez Canal.

A touch of nostalgia helps reinforce the objectives of the visit, especially as it comes at a time when Egypt is experiencing a strategic distancing from Washington due to disagreements on several issues, including the proposed transfer of Gaza’s population, which led to the postponement of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el Sisi’s visit to the White House, and the issue of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, over which Egypt’s appeals for U.S. intervention with Ethiopia have not borne fruit.

This is France in a “new form” that Macron seeks to present in order to push diplomatically to strengthen its presence across various fields, including even the role of mediator. China, in a statement from its Ministry of Commerce, expressed hope that France would play an active role in encouraging the European Union to keep its markets open, as well as in resolving economic and trade disputes through dialogue.

Perhaps Trump’s bluntness pushed Macron to recalibrate relations between the two countries, but Brigitte’s slap cannot be placed in the category of family disputes. Some see it instead as a disciplinary slap from a teacher to her student, intended to awaken a dormant awareness. Between bluntness and the slap, France’s foreign policy position has shifted, taking advantage of gaps in the American role on the international stage, including the war with Iran, and reinforcing countries’ need for the role of the Élysée to restore France’s natural place as an influential state in international politics.

Between dancing and running, Macron succeeds in keeping public attention focused on France’s presence in the African continent. And who knows, he may one day need to visit the Great Wall of China to strengthen communication between Beijing and the European Union.

Despite the relative success of these efforts, at least in media terms, Macron knows he is racing against time with a U.S. president known for his volatile decisions and moods. In the context of the Russia Ukraine war, whose flames are now threatening to reach the heart of Europe, and with his presidency already in its countdown toward the end, the question remains: After Macron’s initiatives, will there be any substantive outcomes?

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by the writers are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Annahar