France is, by territory, the largest country in Western Europe. It also has the distinction of being the only European country that can legitimately claim to be both a northern and southern power. France is therefore exposed to both the Northern European Plain and — via the Rhone river valley — the Mediterranean. This therefore means that despite its apparent isolation near the continent's very western edge, France is the one European state that can attempt to project power in any portion of the European theater. While France stands out in its unique access, it lacks the bulk to dominate, especially today. Consequently, France is nearly always engaged, but is only rarely ascendant.
