What Elysee Treaty teaches us in times of global insecurity
French Ambassador to Korea Philippe Bertoux
On a Thursday 63 years ago, France and Germany chose reconciliation, laying the foundation for a stronger, more united Europe, with cooperation instead of conflict and multilateralism instead of unilateral threats. In today’s world, that spirit is more vital than ever — not only for Europe, but also in Asia. Thus, as ambassadors of France and Germany, we believe that working together with partners like Korea is essential to building a more resilient and sustainable future for all.
The concept of the Franco-German partnership, formalized by the Elysee Treaty in 1963, emerged from the historical dynamic following World War II. Our rapprochement, as well as the European integration project, were driven by the peaceful resolution of tensions, demonstrating that former enemies can become strong allies with strategic vision and political will.
German Ambassador to Korea Georg Schmidt
The dynamism of Franco-German cooperation is strong. We are key economic partners within the European Union and speak with one voice on numerous global issues. As founding members of the EU, we have a unique responsibility to promote integration.
We have developed a “Franco-German reflex” through decades of joint work, as President Emmanuel Macron highlighted during the summit on digital sovereignty in Berlin on Nov. 18, 2025. This means that we consult each other first and act together. In the age of quantum computing and artificial intelligence, this summit in Berlin laid the foundations for what could take the form of a “Schumanian” pooling of our computing power, our talent and our data — an area where we also seek collaboration with Korea.
The Franco-German convergence of views is evident in many areas.
Regarding the situation in Iran, alongside the U.K., we condemn the brutal repression carried out by the Iranian authorities against their own people and commend the courage shown by the Iranian people since the end of December 2025 in expressing their legitimate aspirations for a better life, dignity, and freedom.
On Greenland, our position is clear: The sovereignty of states and the inviolability of borders are fundamental principles of international law. In this regard, we reaffirm our commitment to respecting the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark, accelerating the EU-Greenland strategic partnership signed in 2023. We are committed to strengthening Arctic security as a shared transatlantic interest. The recent participation of French and German troops in the "Operation Arctic Endurance” in Greenland is one of the many signs of our support.
Our partnership is confronted with new geopolitical realities: Russia's unrestrained use of military force in an attempt to regain its geopolitical influence, China's clear plan to be a leading superpower and the United States' orientation towards an agenda "to make America Great Again" all put into question the world order that favoured economic growth and military security for so many countries for the last 80 years.
The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine has now surpassed the duration of the Soviet Union’s fight against Nazi Germany during World War II. We are determined to provide Ukraine with all necessary support to defend itself for as long as it takes. This means constantly reaffirming our commitment to do so over the long term to let Putin realize it is better to stop the bloodshed. However, we see clearly that Russia’s hybrid war is already targeting Europe as a whole.
The war has direct implications for Asia as well, in particular the Korean Peninsula: The Kim Jong-un regime decided to dispatch an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 soldiers to participate in this illegal war and to support Russia with significant arms and ammunition transfers. In turn, North Korea receives financial compensation and combat expertise. This has strengthened North Korea’s position and reduced its willingness for dialogue. The stronger Russia emerges from the war, the less likely North Korea will be to soften its position in the region.
Faced with the rapidly hardening strategic environment and the interconnectedness of our security systems, we must redouble our efforts to protect our democracies and defend the international order founded on the principles, values and institutions of the United Nations. That includes the various U.N. Security Council Resolutions regarding the illegal North Korean nuclear and missile programs.
France stood by South Korea in times of need, including during the Korean War with armed forces, while Germany supported with a hospital. As members of the United Nations Command, we demonstrate our commitment to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, reflecting our strong belief in multilateral cooperation and partnership.
During our strategic dialogues and consultations with South Korea, we reiterate the importance of our defense, security and technological cooperation, extending into the Indo-Pacific and beyond. As strong European nations, we are offering our partnership with Korea.
We consistently call for dialogue, while emphasizing that the sovereignty of states and the inviolability of borders are fundamental principles of international law. In a world adrift, these principles guide our actions.
"We share the same clear vision of the internal and external challenges facing our two countries," Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated at the Toulon Council. In the same vein, President Macron continued, "We both believe that our countries … have the capacity, through greater intimacy and friendship between us, between our teams and between our countries, to overcome them."
The challenges and opportunities of the new year and beyond demand collaboration and a shared vision. Germany and France are proud to stand with Korea as partners in navigating these complexities, fostering economic growth and promoting peace and security in the region.
Philippe Bertoux is the French ambassador to the Republic of Korea since July 2023. He joined the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1999 and was previously posted in the US, Russia and Canada. He previously served as France's Permanent Representative to the International Civil Aviation Organization in Montreal (2016-2020) and as director general for strategic affairs, security and disarmament in Paris (2020-2023).
Georg Schmidt is German Ambassador to South Korea. He joined the Federal Foreign Office in 1995. His professional career included assignments at the Federal Chancellor’s Office and the Federal President’s Office, always dealing with Asia, Africa and International Development. His last posting in Berlin was as Regional Director for Africa in the Federal Foreign Ministry (2014-2018). Before his assignment in Seoul he served as German Ambassador in Thailand (2018-2023).