Europe’s Social Democrats Show Signs of Life, but France Poses a Roadblock

Center-left parties have won a string of victories, capped by Olaf Scholz’s win in Germany. Yet, France’s struggling Socialists threaten hopes for a broader social democratic revival.

Can Macron Lead the European Union After Merkel Retires?

Emmanuel Macron, the French president, would love to fill the German chancellor’s shoes. But a Europe with no single, central figure may be more likely.

An Uncomfortable Question in France: Are We Still a Great Power?

The failed submarine deal with Australia raises questions about whether there is an unbridgeable divide between France’s vision of itself on the world stage and its actual power.

France, Striving for Global Power, Still Struggles to Get It

Though often seen as vanity or pique, France’s assertiveness abroad is calibrated to manage a quandary it has faced since World War II: how to act as an independent power while depending on allies.

Submarines and Shifting Allegiances

Why the U.S.-British deal to sell military technology to Australia has unleashed claims of backstabbing and betrayal.

Opinion | No Wonder the French Are Angry

The new partnership between the United States, Britain and Australia is a diplomatic bombshell.

Opinion | The Roots of French Pique

France was right to be angry about the submarine deal. But it’ll get over it.

At U.N., Biden Calls for Diplomacy, Not Conflict, but Some Are Skeptical

The president said he wants global cooperation to meet challenges, but some allies and adversaries say his actions point to confrontation with China and unilateral action, belying his words.

France Asks ‘Forgiveness’ for Its Abandonment of Algerian Harkis

After fighting on the French side in the Algerian war of independence, Algerian Arabs were left to be slaughtered in Algeria or were abused in France.

Macron Takes on U.S., a Big Gamble Even for a Bold Risk-Taker

For President Emmanuel Macron of France, a debacle over a lost submarine deal with Australia suggests that the NATO alliance is debilitated through lack of trust.

Stabilized Notre-Dame Cathedral Is on Track for 2024 Reopening, Officials Say

The restoration effort is seeking to meet President Emmanuel Macron’s ambitious plan to reopen the cathedral five years after it was ravaged by a fire — just in time for the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

Secret Talks and a Hidden Agenda: Behind the U.S. Defense Deal That France Called a ‘Betrayal’

In meeting after meeting with their French counterparts, U.S. officials gave no heads-up about their plans to upend France’s largest defense contract.

Furious Over Sub Deal, France Recalls Ambassadors to U.S. and Australia

It is the first time in the long history of the French-U.S. alliance that a top diplomat has been recalled, illustrating the depth of France’s anger.

The Sharp U.S. Pivot to Asia Is Throwing Europe Off Balance

The new U.S. alliance with Australia and Britain against China has put Europe closer to a question it has tried to avoid: Which side are you on?

From TV to the French Presidency? A Right-Wing Star Is Inspired by Trump

Éric Zemmour, a writer and TV celebrity known for his far-right nationalism, dominates political talk in France as he weighs a run for president.

In Submarine Deal With Australia, U.S. Counters China but Enrages France

The reaction signals a widening rift among Western allies over China. French officials accused President Biden of acting like his predecessor.

A Skeleton for Diplomacy: How a Plan to Reconcile France and Russia Collapsed

The remains of a Napoleonic general who died on a Russian battlefield came home in July. But the chance for rapprochement collapsed over concerns about Moscow’s policies.

Why Europe’s Leaders Say They Won’t Welcome More Afghan Refugees

With elections looming in Germany and France, European politicians are determined to avoid the sort of populist backlash that followed the 2015 refugee crisis. But experts say the comparison is flawed.

Macron and Le Pen Parties Both Battered in French Regional Elections

The returns suggest the presidential election next year may be more wide open than it seemed.

Europe’s Divisions on Vivid Display Over Hungary and Russia

In a summit of European Union leaders, there were fierce, emotional arguments about Hungary’s new law on sex education and about how and when to meet Russia’s president.