Catherine Sendak
Hello, my name is Catherine Sendak and welcome to CEPA’s “State of the Alliance”, a series bringing together thought leaders from Europe and North America to deliberate the most pressing challenges facing Europe and its allies and partners. Today I am honored to welcome the French Ambassador to the United States, Laurent Bili, welcome Ambassador.
Laurent Bili
Thanks for having me.
Catherine Sendak
We are almost 18 months into Russia’s full scale invasion into Ukraine. And coming off of the historic summit in Vilnius last month for NATO. There’s much to discuss about European security and the way forward. So let’s get started. Ambassador, thank you again for joining us. I want to get started with Ukraine. So we are almost 18 months into Russia’s invasion into Ukraine. How do you assess the alliance’s efforts so far to support Ukraine and its efforts?
Laurent Bili
I think what is very impressive, it’s the determination and the unity of the alliance as a whole. And I do think that our partnership, strategic partnership has never been so great for many, many years, probably from the beginning of my career, if I may say so. Yes, it was 30 years ago.
Catherine Sendak
The unity is is impressive, and the fact that we’ve been able to maintain it over this time is also impressive. So turning to the summit, you know, coming out of Vilnius, many people consider it a historic summit based on the outcomes. How do you judge the success of the summit? And and more particularly, specifically, the issues that we that the summit laid out for Ukraine in terms of further assistance? The the establishment of the NATO Ukraine Council, the elimination of the Membership Action Plan for their membership? What is your perspective on the successes of the summit?
Laurent Bili
Well, there’s no doubt that Vilnius was a success. And we, I do also think that we have to see Vilnius together with the G7 Summit, because somehow it makes a package, and especially the G7 words , declaration about Ukraine and the indivisibility. Ukraine being an inpu-, an integral part of the Euro Atlantic security, I think it was a very powerful statement. But also, as you mentioned, the roadmap. Ukraine need to conceal the continuation of it, but more, most of all, again, the unity, the determination, the commitment of any older members to continue to support Ukraine, as long as it takes, I think was a very powerful message.
Catherine Sendak
You brought up the G7 declaration that was that was unveiled at the summit. Do you do you see, from your perspective, a good balance between NATO’s efforts and the G7 ‘s efforts? Or do you see them as aligned in assistance to Ukraine.
Laurent Bili
Certainly, it was part of the whole strategy of commun-, of communication. So it’s not like a distant voice or something. Very simple, this reason why we chose that path that I think everybody will understand. But all together, I think the message to Russia was very clear.
Catherine Sendak
No, absolutely. So turning a little bit, as we were just discussing before you you prior to your post here in DC, you were the French Ambassador to China. Obviously, we had some Indo Pacific partners join us at the Vilnius summit last month. From your perspective, what is NATO’s role in the Indo Pacific and its stance on China moving forward?
Laurent Bili
Well, first of all, NATO is the North Atlantic [inaudible] and that’s our starting point. But having said that, we have this kind of consultation, very useful, because some of like minded countries, what just should avoid is to give the wrong impression like that we are rushing to a confrontation. We are, we just have to show who we are. Very peacefully, I will say. And it will be that also kind of a message.
Catherine Sendak
And so do you think that NATO has a role to play in the Indo Pacific in terms of messaging and security?
Laurent Bili
And basically, I think the message of having this kind of consultation, again, peaceful consultation, political consultation is important. But we have to keep focus where the alliance are at its core mission.
Catherine Sendak
Right, which is Russia, on the border here in Europe. Yes, absolutely. So turning a little bit to kind of internal European security, which I know President Macron has been leading on. Back in April, the Polish Prime Minister responded to President Macrons position for strategic autonomy. I’m saying that it should be more strategic partnership with the United States. From your perspective and in France and Europe. How do we meet both of those strategic objectives in Europe?
Laurent Bili
I don’t see a contradiction with these two objective, I think even one is necessary to the other because if you want to have a partnership, you need to have partner and if you want to have partner, we need to have capabilities and as a way to achieve capabilities is to also give them a goal. But the President has always been very clear. And even more recently, also in the GLOBSEC speech that was a very powerful one that you see also the European pillar within the alliance and I think it was a very strong message about partnership. Yes.
Catherine Sendak
Do you think that the the EU’s role in these issues and its cooperation with NATO, do you think that there’s room for growth in that partnership? Or do you think that they’re on a good path right now.
Laurent Bili
We are in a good path. But as France, we have been advocating in Vilnius to be as forthcoming as possible, because we really think that we are in the same boat. And so EU and NATO should work closely together.
Catherine Sendak
So turning back to Ukraine, first, I want to ask, obviously, President Macron in the lead up to the summit has been very strong on the stance of Ukrainian membership into NATO. You know, before we talk about Ukraine moving forward, do you all see a path before the Washington summit next year for Ukraine? Or how do you all judge the timeline at this point?
Laurent Bili
Well, we have been also focusing a lot on unity of the alliance and also practicality for a country at war to join NATO put some complex issues. But having said that, I think there is no doubt that for us, the future of Ukraine is with NATO as well as in within the EU.
Catherine Sendak
Absolutely, absolutely. And hopefully, sooner rather than, than later for some of this. Well finally, Ambassador, I want to talk about the unity of Europe moving forward. You know, again, we’re speaking about the summit. We’re speaking about all of this assistance and the support, both from the EU and the alliance. But there are divergences of view of views across Europe, how it impacts economies and citizens. So far, we’ve won out, solidarity has won out. Do you have any concerns about the unity moving forward and how do we maintain that solidarity within Europe and the West moving forward?
Laurent Bili
I think first of all, it has been very impressive the results of the EU. Speed, also the measures that we have been taken and taken and the volume of aid that we have been giving to Ukraine. And we are reaching more than 86 billion US dollars now. So which is quite an impressive package. And three, we are on the same path of that now. So yes, of course, you guys are being the lead on military support, for obvious reasons and we really appreciate that. But within the EU, I don’t see that much of dissent voice, in fact it varies. Of course, maybe one figure or two figures some time, but in an alliance of a union of 27 countries, it’s quite impressive to see that all these countries have been working together. And we’re really, I think, are aware of the challenge and what it is at stake. So I’m quite confident of the future of the ability of the EU to sustain that that effort. Speaking for France, I don’t see in the domestic scene really dissent voice on that, I think it’s is very important.
Catherine Sendak
So the other, you know, some of the other European countries who have had elections recently. Do you feel that the unity on Ukraine stay strong for the future?
Laurent Bili
I’m quite convinced on that. Yes.
Catherine Sendak
Yeah. That’s wonderful. And, sir, you know, as we close out our conversation, any challenges on the horizon, you think that we in the West should be watching out for in terms of Russia, European security, anything that we’re not paying attention to because so much of our focus is is rightly with Ukraine?
Laurent Bili
Well, I think at the moment, we are, again, on the right track together. I think we have to be also very aware of the effort of the other and the level of commitment that US have been doing but not under estimating as well the European effort. We’ll be a bit concerned if someone will not regard the resolve of the European Union as for what it is, which is something that we have never seen in the last 30 years.
Catherine Sendak
Absolutely. And I think that message of that resolve I think is so important for for populations and for Russia to understand, to deter further further conflict.
Laurent Bili
And within NATO, you can see that no, we are passing from the 2% of GDP for the defense budget as a as minimum, maximum to minimum, it really shows that we are entering a completely different era. And that should be that should put us together, more stronger.
Catherine Sendak
Such a huge sign, and I look forward to that continued unity as we move forward. Well, Ambassador, thank you so much for joining us today for our conversation. And thank you so much for tuning in to CEPA’s “State of the Alliance” series. Please visit cepa.org and CEPA’s social media accounts to stay up to date on upcoming events and the latest analysis.
