Emmanuel Macron - The New Leader of the Western World

                                               Source: Bloomberg

    With President Trump proposing to allow Russia back into the G-7 - a proposal which brought ridicule from most of Congress and the rest of the free world - it appears that, for now, the west needs a new figure to lead it. Clearly, President Trump is too isolationist and too foolish to assume the unofficial, but important role as leader of the free world. His adversity towards free trade, as well as his attitude towards Russia, is simply incompatible with the attitudes of other western democracies. However, hope does exist - and it isn't coming from Chancellor Merkel in Berlin, but instead from Emmanuel Macron of France.
     This shift can largely be seen, of all places, in Emmanuel Macron's twitter feed. In the last 48 hours, Macron has said that "On principle, we must not rule out a 6+1 agreement", and has said that "The six other G7 countries combined form a larger market than the American market. This must not be forgotten". This is an assertive tone, and it strongly indicates that Macron is willing - even eager - to lead the free world as the US sinks further and further into isolationism. Aside from the western hemisphere, Macron has also claimed that without France, Lebanon would be in a civil war. In general, Macron wants to increase French power, which also means that Emmanuel Macron is a realist when it comes to foreign policy - he recognizes the importance of power, and senses that now is the ideal time to step into a leadership role with a rapidly retreating United States of America.
     This doesn't mean that America has lost its position as the head superpower in the western world. It still has the most powerful military in human history, and it is also the wealthiest nation in human history. But its soft power - defined as the ability to attract and co-opt using cultural and economic methods, as well as diplomatic goodwill - is clearly waning. Trump has made America look like a total joke on the global stage, and now the world is turning elsewhere. Macron and France represent the logical place to turn - France is no America when it comes to military power, but it is a nuclear capable state, and France is in no way lacking hard power. But it is Macron's use of soft power that has been notable - France now leads the world in soft power, having built up international goodwill in the wake of Brexit and America's isolationist turn.
     It isn't like the free world desires to abandon America, either. NATO won't be dissolving anytime soon, mostly because of Europe's general reliance on America for military protection. But with Trump's increasingly erratic behavior when it comes to both Russia and free trade, the free world needs a backup plan, and it is increasingly evident that Emmanuel Macron is becoming that backup plan. Aside from his actions at the G7, Macron has proposed tremendous reforms in front of the EU parliament, with the same pan-European rhetoric that Napoleon Bonaparte used over 200 years ago. He has pressured Australia into being more aggressive in its fight against climate change.
     The chance still exists for America to once more lead - a relatively sane, and very strong America lead the free world through the cold war, and it is still a strong ally of Europe. But, in its current condition, it will be Emmanuel Macron and France, not Donald Trump and the United States of America, who will ultimately carry the torch of liberty in the near future.