In particular, he called for an end to the "dramatic and deplorable humanitarian situation" in Gaza. Him pausing before a manger last year with a figure of Jesus (pbuh) lying on a keffiyeh is also memorable. May God accept his prayers. 2/2

www.vatican.va/content/fran...

Prior to this, when he threatened to annex Gaza, Greenland, Canada and the Panama Canal, they mostly didn't seem to care. Sadly, people care about what's (often geographically) close to them. It's as predictable as it is disappointing. 2/2

...and that France may agree to @_FriedrichMerz 's request for Germany to be placed under the French nuclear umbrella (after a "strategic debate", whatever that means). This is huge. It would give France a central role in Europe not seen since the Napoleonic era. 4/4

Macron's speech contains two key points: that EU member-states will be able to increase their military spending without increasing their budget deficits (a head-scratcher for the accountants, for sure), 3/4

Et l'idée d'accéder à la requête de Merz et protéger l'Allemagne avec l'arsenal nucléaire français après un "débat stratégique". Cela pourrait donner à la France une centralité en Europe jamais vue depuis l'ère de Napoléon. 2/

*reining in.

It's a horse metaphor (to do with reins).