This France has certainly done, demonstrating it can cause Russia significant difficulty over issues such as ABM revisions, debt relief, exposing corruption, NATO expansion and EU enlargement. What embarrassment Russia has delivered, France has returned tenfold. Putin has not visited Paris, the Duma passed a toothless resolution condemning France s seizure of the Sedov and Russia decided to charge admission to tour the Sedov at what was otherwise a free event. France also has domestic European reasons for isolating Russia. Freed from meaningful engagement with Europe s eastern flank for a time, France can now direct the attention of the EU s other 14 members toward the French agenda for Europe.
French actions support an effort to redefine France s role in an evolving Europe.
France went along with NATO actions in Bosnia and Kosovo to ensure that Paris would have influence in Europe s evolving security structures. Then, using Chechnya as the topic for soapbox speeches, France set a useful precedent for itself as a natural focal point for the union s emerging joint foreign policy. France has always sought to command leadership of Europe. Chechnya provided and continues to provide the perfect opportunity. However, France s refusal to consider debt relief could threaten Russia s economic reforms, causing quite a bit of chaos.