France views European military response in Ukraine as a ‘laboratory for a post-Trump NATO’

The deployment of European troops to Ukraine following a hypothetical peace agreement has become a key objective of the renewed Franco-British alliance. French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer are advocating for the creation of a “coalition of the willing” to ensure stability in Ukraine. This initiative would involve deploying approximately 30,000 ground troops, with the potential inclusion of naval and air contingents. According to a diplomatic communication, France views this effort as a “laboratory” for testing the operational framework of the European pillar of a “post-Trump NATO.”

Preparatory meetings ahead of Thursday’s high-level gathering — attended by representatives from 31 countries, as well as NATO and EU leaders — allowed diplomats to gain a clearer understanding of France’s vision. The goal is to align European military efforts with U.S. efforts. Macron, who maintains frequent communication with U.S. President Donald Trump and speaks almost daily with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, reaffirmed France’s commitment to deploying troops not only in Ukraine but also in allied nations such as Romania to bolster its border security.

The proposed coalition of the willing, according to the preparatory meetings and the diplomatic communication, could operate under NATO’s command and control structure, following the model of the Berlin Plus agreements of 2003. These agreements allow NATO to support EU-led operations without requiring full NATO participation.

While proponents agree that the coalition’s framework should be coordinated with NATO, France and the United Kingdom are actively working to identify EU countries willing to participate. The U.K., for its part, is pushing for the mission to include air support in addition to ground operations.

Beyond its immediate objectives, the mission is also envisioned as a way to tests missions carried out by European coalitions of volunteers, with the support of NATO’s infrastructure. If implemented, diplomatic sources believe, “it could constitute the embryo of the future mechanisms of a post-Trump NATO.”

On Thursday, Macron unequivocally announced that a “coalition of the willing” will be deployed on Ukrainian soil to guarantee peace following a potential peace agreement. While opposition from some EU member states — such as Germany, Croatia, and Italy — remains, Macron downplayed concerns. “It is not unanimous,” he said, “But we do not need unanimity to achieve it.”

However, coordinating such an operation presents significant logistical challenges, which why it could be formed under NATO command and control.

The realization of the mission would also be a way to test, in a favorable political context (especially given a hypothetical and progressive loss of U.S. presence and the United Kingdom’s willingness to re-enter continental strategies), this type of mission carried out by coalitions of volunteers and supported by the NATO structure. If this entire plan moves forward, the same sources believe, it could constitute the foundation of future NATO mechanisms with a reduced U.S. presence.

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