Ambassador (Ret.) Philippe Étienne: ’’The accession of Eastern European countries to NATO strengthened the Alliance capacity for collective defense’’

Abstract

This article presents an interview with Philippe Étienne, who served as France’s Ambassador to the United States (2019-2023) and to Romania (2002-2005), focusing on the evolution of NATO and France’s role within the Alliance. Ambassador Étienne reflects on the post-Cold War period and the enlargement of NATO to include Central and Eastern European countries, emphasizing the critical contributions of nations like Romania to European security. He highlights France’s steadfast support for Romania’s NATO membership, the strengthening of French-Romanian defense cooperation and the shared strategic vision within the context of the war in Ukraine. Lastly, Étienne also discusses NATO’s current challenges, including Russia’s aggression, hybrid threats, and the importance of a stronger European defense pillar, which France champions in its efforts to enhance transatlantic security.