Photo Gallery The Syria Question
France and Germany seem to be on a collision course over the use of military force in Syria. Germany's reticence to contribute to collective security is once again leading to tensions in the strategically important relationship.
There is a strategic rift emerging between French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius and his German counterpart Guido Westerwelle, who have different positions vis-à-vis North Africa and the Middle East.
Fabius this week called for the use of force in Syria. Experts are convinced that the hundreds of people who died in attacks in the country were the victims of chemical weapons.
It is yet to be confirmed, however, exactly what was deployed and whether the Assad regime is indeed responsible.
The Syrian government has rejected the allegations. But experts agree that the sheer number of photos, videos and eyewitness accounts leave little reasonable doubt that a chemical weapons attack took place. Here, survivors of the attack.
In response to France's call for the use of force in Syria, German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle urged caution: "Before speaking of consequences we must first have clarification."
Since a rare misstep responding to the uprising against Tunisian President Ben Ali, France has sought redemption by betting early and often on opposition movements.
Germany started deviating from French leadership in March 2011, when its diplomats ruled out participation in Libya regardless of UN Security Council resolutions.
