Moral and intellectual influence, economic power, and military strength have historically allowed dominant powers, particularly the Western world and the USSR, to assert their interests. The Helsinki Accords of 1975 marked a shift in power dynamics favoring the West, leading to the eventual decline of the USSR. Current events in Ukraine and Gaza reflect a significant shift in power, indicating the waning influence of the Western world in military, economic, and value-based terms. Historical conflicts, such as those in Korea, Vietnam, and Afghanistan, highlight the West's mixed success in global interventions.

Emmanuel Macron, since taking office in May 2017, has made significant shifts in French diplomacy, moving away from the approaches of his predecessors. He has engaged with global leaders like Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, and Xi Jinping, positioning France as a mediator. Macron's foreign policy, sometimes described as 'gaullo-mitterrandienne,' maintains strong ties with Gulf countries and a firm stance against the Islamic State, while advocating for multilateralism and independent crisis management. Key initiatives include efforts to preserve the Iran nuclear deal, climate agreements, and mediation in Libya.