Ukraine must be given “guarantees” against any return to war on its territory when hostilities cease and Europe must “fully play its role” in the process, he said.
Last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he discussed with Macron the possibility of Western troops being deployed to Ukraine to safeguard any peace deal ending the nearly three-year war with Russia.
France, which has a large defense industry, has often complained when other European Union members have chosen to buy American weapons when French or European alternatives exist.
French President Emmanuel Macron delivers his New Year’s speech to the French army.Credit: AP
Germany’s decision in 2022 to launch the “European Sky Defend” air defense system with American and Israeli {hardware}, ignoring a Franco-Italian alternative, particularly infuriated Macron.
“We cannot go into debt together, spend more on defense to subsidize the industry, wealth and jobs of other continents.
Charging
“When we say ‘let’s spend more for our armies,’ in many countries it means, too often, ‘buy more American materials.’”
Those concerns have long been dismissed as self-serving by countries that have relied on the U.S. security umbrella since at least World War II. But Trump’s more aggressive stance has made EU members more receptive.
Macron said Europeans should also simplify the European defense industry. Europe has 47 different industrial platforms for its naval industry, while the United States has only six, he said.
He called for greater joint weapons development in Europe, even without French companies at the helm, adding: “We will not always be European champions. But at least we will be sure that the European champions will have an international reach.”
Charging
Macron said France now had “the most efficient army in Europe” and met NATO’s military budget target of 2 percent of GDP, but could not rest on its laurels at a time when the United States could withdraw troops. of Europe.
And he suggested that 2 percent might not be enough “when the world is going off the rails.”
AP, Reuters
