French President Emmanuel Macron urged Europe to increase defense spending and reduce reliance on the US for security, in a speech to troops as Donald Trump returns to power. Macron expressed concern about potential changes in US foreign policy, particularly regarding the war in Ukraine, calling for a European 'strategic wake-up call'. He highlighted the risks of US withdrawal from the region and emphasized the need for Europe to take a more active role in its own defense.
French President Emmanuel Macron urged Europe on Monday to 'wake up' and increase its defense spending to lessen its reliance on the United States for security, in a speech to French troops as Donald Trump returns to power.
Macron addressed anticipated shifts in Washington's foreign policy, particularly concerning the war in Ukraine, characterizing it as an 'opportunity for a European strategic wake-up call' during his New Year's address to the military at the Army Digital and Cyber Support Command in western France. 'What will we do in Europe tomorrow if our American ally withdraws its warships from the Mediterranean? If they send their fighter jets from the Atlantic to the Pacific?' he inquired. Trump has denounced the war in Ukraine's financial burden on U.S. taxpayers through substantial military aid packages and has made it clear that he desires to transfer more of the financial responsibility to Europe. He has pledged to expedite the conflict's resolution, expressing optimism that peace could be negotiated within six months. Macron emphasized that France and Europe must adapt to evolving threats and shifting geopolitical interests. 'Who would have thought a year ago that Greenland would be at the center of political and strategic debates? That's the way it is,' he stated. Macron stressed the importance of providing sustained support to Ukraine to ensure Kyiv holds a strong position during any future peace negotiations. Ukraine must receive 'guarantees' against the recurrence of war on its territory upon the cessation of hostilities, and Europe must 'play its full role' in this process, he asserted. Last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that he had discussed with Macron the possibility of Western troops deploying in Ukraine to safeguard a peace agreement ending the nearly three-year war with Russia. 'As one of these guarantees, we discussed the French initiative to deploy military contingents in Ukraine,' Zelenskyy stated. Deploying European troops as peacekeepers to Ukraine presents significant risks. Such a move might not deter Russia from potentially launching another attack on Ukraine in the future, a concern shared by Ukrainian officials, and could draw European countries into a direct confrontation with Moscow. This, in turn, could escalate the conflict, pulling NATO — including the United States — into the fray
FRANCE EUROPE DEFENSE UNITED STATES DONALD TRUMP UKRAINE WAR EMMANUEL MACRON
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