Strategic ambiguity is a core concept for France for the reasons you suggest. When it first became a nuclear power, France even had a “tous azimuts” strategy: deterring threats from all directions.
The problem with Macron’s attempt to add strategic ambiguity to Europe/NATO’s stance on Ukraine by suggesting that troops might be sent to help, is that he did the opposite: he forced those who would not contemplate sending troops to say so out loud. That’s how a necessary discussion (how to help Ukraine) ended up weakening that very effort.
Strategic ambiguity is a core concept for France for the reasons you suggest. When it first became a nuclear power, France even had a “tous azimuts” strategy: deterring threats from all directions.
The problem with Macron’s attempt to add strategic ambiguity to Europe/NATO’s stance on Ukraine by suggesting that troops might be sent to help, is that he did the opposite: he forced those who would not contemplate sending troops to say so out loud. That’s how a necessary discussion (how to help Ukraine) ended up weakening that very effort.
Why Macron did it? My answer: https://ivodaalder.substack.com/p/macrons-grandstanding-is-counterproductive