French and German Strategic Narratives: Divergence or Convergence?

This article assesses whether the strategic narratives of France and Germany regarding European defence cooperation are currently exhibiting divergence or convergence. Despite the previous differing approaches of the two countries towards European defence cooperation, the findings reveal that the current trend is moving towards more convergence. There are several catalysts for this convergence, but Russia's aggressive foreign policy coupled with China's perceived efforts to reshape the international order play substantial roles. The policy document analysis outlines the two governments' strategic narratives from 2016 to 2023 and investigates shifts in both German and French policy, in terms of changing priorities, changing strategic culture and a potential drive towards more European strategic autonomy.