Europe

Since 2014, Russia has only stepped up its repressive behavior at home and aggressive actions abroad. The decision to allow Russia back into the Council [of Europe] sends the message that this behavior is acceptable. It’s a dangerous precedent for others.

The decision [by the the Council of Europe to reinstate Russia's voting rights] sends the message that it's back to business as usual with Russia, even though Moscow hasn't done anything to change its aggressive behavior...The idea is that it's better to have Russia in the Council because it gives some leverage. But this is a false assumption given that Russia invaded Ukraine and committed numerous human rights offenses before that, while it was a member.

There is a need for France to be that moralizing voice, even if Macron is sometimes screaming into the void. If you don’t have a France that annoys the U.S. on Iraq, that disagrees on Iran, that pushed for the Paris climate accords, no one else will do it.