The Atlantic Core Cracks: France and Germany Expose Europe’s Fractured Future

The illusion of European unity is breaking apart—not with a bang, but with policy disagreements, energy squabbles, and old rivalries dressed up in neoliberal suits. France and Germany, the so-called engine of the EU, are stalling—and the rest of the imperial bloc is feeling the shudder.

Politico reports that German conservative leader Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron didn’t even bother hiding their disagreements in their recent summit. From defense to green industry, it’s clear: the Paris-Berlin axis is cracking. The myth of a unified Europe is collapsing under the weight of its own contradictions—and the bill for empire is coming due.

From Postwar Partners to Bickering Bosses

France and Germany were supposed to be the mature adults in the imperial West’s European club—the ones who could coordinate capitalist expansion while keeping the U.S. close but not too close. Now, Germany’s scrambling to militarize under NATO pressure, while France pushes for EU “strategic autonomy”—translation: let’s build our own army so Washington doesn’t call all the shots. But Washington still calls the shots. And the cracks in this transatlantic triangle are becoming fault lines.

Nuclear vs. Gas, Sovereignty vs. Submission

Germany shut down its nukes. France doubled down. Now they can’t even agree on what “clean energy” means. Berlin is buying U.S. liquefied gas at inflated prices while France begs Brussels to call nuclear power green so it can subsidize its own firms. It’s not just about energy—it’s about control over the next phase of capitalist accumulation. And right now, they’re playing tug-of-war with each other’s futures.

Subsidies and Sanctions: The Neoliberal Knife Fight

Germany still clings to its export model like it’s 2005. France wants tariffs, industrial policy, and protectionism to shield itself from both U.S. and Chinese competition. The result? Paralysis. They can’t coordinate on green subsidies, can’t decide how to respond to U.S. industrial policy, and sure as hell can’t agree on who’s going to foot the war bill for Ukraine. This isn’t just bureaucratic dysfunction—it’s class war in the corridors of Brussels.

The Myth of European Unity Dies in Technocratic Silence

Europe’s ruling class wants us to believe the EU is a shining model of post-national cooperation. In reality, it’s a neoliberal holding cell where imperialist powers claw at each other while pretending to hold hands. Now, as Russia redraws the board, China expands south, and the U.S. swings between decline and belligerence, the European core is crumbling. France and Germany are fighting over the steering wheel as the car goes off the cliff.

Conclusion: When the Center Can’t Hold, the Periphery Suffers

This isn’t just a spat—it’s a symptom. The imperial West is in decay. The EU’s model of unity through austerity, militarization, and technocratic consensus is collapsing. France and Germany are no longer co-managers of European capitalism—they’re competitors in a declining market, and the people will pay the price. As always, it’s workers, migrants, and the Global South that will feel the brunt. The center is cracking—and it’s about time we stop pretending otherwise.