French FM says Europe could be 'third actor' amid US-China rivalry

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Friday that Europe possesses the capacity to serve as a "third actor" in an era of intensifying strategic competition between Washington and Beijing. Drawing on classical history, he argued that peripheral powers often prevail when established rivals exhaust themselves in prolonged conflict.

In a post on the social media platform X, Barrot referenced the so-called "Thucydides Trap" — a term describing the inherent risk of conflict between a rising power and a ruling one. He noted that Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump have both invoked the concept, which derives from the ancient Greek historian's account of the Peloponnesian War.

Ancient analogy

Barrot drew a direct parallel between the ancient conflict and contemporary geopolitics, observing that while Athens and Sparta spent decades depleting their resources in mutual destruction, the kingdom of Macedonia was quietly consolidating military, economic and financial strength. "In the end, it was Macedonia that prevailed," he wrote, suggesting that Europe could replicate such a trajectory if it demonstrates sufficient political will.

The French minister framed the continent's potential elevation as a matter of choice rather than inevitability, asking rhetorically who the modern-day Macedonia might be. "Who could this third actor be today? It will be Europe, if we have the courage and the will," Barrot stated, adding that this vision represents the core of French diplomatic advocacy.

Beijing context

Barrot's remarks followed recent discussions between Xi and Trump in Beijing, where the Chinese leader explicitly invoked the Thucydides Trap framework during their exchange. The meeting highlighted ongoing tensions between the world's two largest economies, with both sides seeking to navigate a relationship characterized by deep economic interdependence and sharpening security competition.

The concept has gained renewed currency in Western capitals as Washington and Beijing manage disputes over trade tariffs and technological dominance. European leaders have increasingly emphasized strategic autonomy as a means of insulating the continent from great power friction while asserting independent diplomatic influence.