Sidorov Alexandre Sergueevitch – researcher, Department of Europe and America, INION RAS
The article deals with the problems of the French-German military-political cooperation. The structures and mechanisms of military French-German interaction are analyzed; the evolution and limits of their development are shown. Approaches, expectations of France and Germany as partners are compared regarding the purpose and final goals of cooperation, their share in the total spectrum of French-German relations is assessed. The state and prospects of joint military structures, the possibilities of their adaptation in the context of growing geopolitical turbulence and crisis are analyzed. It is noted that such structures, under conditions of adaptation, gradually lose their initially innovative nature against the background of similar and in some cases more integrated formations. It is emphasized that the immanent interstate base of these joint structures and mechanisms dominates. It is shown that this dominance cannot be overcome by horizontal expansion of the forms of cooperation, its extension to new areas. It is noted that it is impossible to achieve a new quality of cooperation in the framework of the current paradigm. The significance of specific military-technical projects for assessing the quality and maturity of cooperation is highlighted. The strategic role of technically complex projects in consolidating the multidirectional interests of participants is emphasized. The relatively more active role of France in tandem, the proactive nature of its impact on German partners, is highlighted. The reasons hindering the intensification of cooperation in the military-technical field are analyzed. The necessity of adequate consideration of differences in militarystrategic cultures for the formation of mutually acceptable approaches in specific areas of military cooperation is shown. It is concluded that, despite the existing «window of opportunity», the risks of stagnation (non-reversal!) of French-German cooperation remain and require an equal effort from both partners to maintain cooperation dynamics.
French-German tandem, military-political cooperation, structures, mechanisms, joint projects, export restrictions.
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