France called a framework trade deal between the United States and European Union a “dark day” for Europe, saying the bloc had caved in to U.S. President Donald Trump with an unbalanced deal that slaps a headline 15 per cent tariff on EU goods while sparing U.S. imports from any immediate European retaliation.
The rest of Europe doesn’t want to take on the burden of an independent foreign/defense policy.
Western European countries get to enjoy their peace dividend while not needing to answer to their public about foreign policy. Eastern Europe is scared that Russian aggression is going to include their countries.
France is probably the only EU nation that can self deploy an expeditionary force or project power beyond its borders. France is also the only EU nation with a nuclear deterrent.