Geopolitics & Public Affairs
Invited by the student association HEC Débats on December 2, 2025, on the HEC Paris campus, Hubert Védrine offered a clear-eyed analysis of today’s geopolitical landscape. As global rivalries intensify—particularly between the United States and China—he argues that Europe must abandon any form of “strategic innocence.” He also discussed the evolving nature of the Franco-German relationship, the complexities of the Middle East, and the need for France to pursue a pragmatic foreign policy capable of preserving its autonomy in an increasingly multipolar world.
Key findings
- Europe must abandon naïve narratives: the Franco-German “couple” is no longer a given, and unity requires hard political work.
- A two-state solution remains the only viable path to Israeli-Palestinian coexistence—despite shrinking political support on both sides.
- The West no longer dominates the world alone: US-China rivalry defines the century, and Europe must avoid strategic innocence.
- France’s foreign policy goal is simple: remain master of its destiny—through pragmatism, credible defense and strategic clarity.
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