With France's history from at least the 20th century, they really need to sit down. I guess that's why they have these extra-exploitative policies in place (although all of these developed nations are trash and exploit) . France just got its ass kicked and rescued in 2 world wars, and then thought that they were going to try and hold on to its SE Asian colonies. they needed help with that too and still lost. I'm sure they doubled down after that in their african colonies, with Britain and US help as usual.
Militarily weak indeed.