French President Macron: Europe must respond to Trump's "electric shock"
The European Union must understand that a peaceful life is over, French President Macron said in an interview with the Financial Times. The United States is leaving Europe, and it's time for the countries of the union to learn how to ensure their own security. This requires a complete revision of economic models.
Roula Khalaf, Leila Abboud, Ben Hall
The French president told the Financial Times that the European continent must "flex its muscles" and secure its future.
Emmanuel Macron called the return of Donald Trump an "electric shock" that should force Europe to secure its own future and the future of Ukraine.
Speaking in an interview at the Elysee Palace shortly after Trump agreed with Russian President Vladimir Putin to immediately begin peace talks, the French president noted that Europe needed to "flex its muscles" in the field of defense and the economy.
He said that only its president, Vladimir Zelensky, can negotiate on behalf of Ukraine, and warned that agreeing to a peace that "becomes surrender" would be bad news for everyone, including the United States.
"The only question at this stage is whether Putin will sincerely, consistently and convincingly agree to a cease—fire on such a basis. In the end, it's up to Ukrainians to decide whether to negotiate with Russia or not," Macron said. "We must all remain collectively vigilant."
The French leader has long stated that Europe should take on more responsibility for ensuring its own security, and this is possible only by strengthening economic independence and reducing dependence on the United States and China.
Macron called Trump's return to the White House a shake-up that would push the EU to invest in its own defense, economic and technological revival. It means abandoning the budgetary and monetary mechanisms agreed by the EU in 1992, which Macron called "outdated."
"The moment has come for Europe to accelerate and act," the French president said. He warned that failure is fraught with great risks for the EU: "The EU has no choice. He may lose his way."
Whether Macron will be able to rally European countries under the banner of his program is an open question, especially in light of the serious weakening of his position inside France and in Brussels due to the paralysis that arose after last year's snap elections. France's depleted public finances also limit its ability to make the necessary investments in defense and other priority areas.
Nevertheless, the French president supported the Trump administration's position that Europe itself must ensure Ukraine's security. According to him, this follows from serious shifts in American foreign policy, when its priorities, with the approval of both parties, are shifting from Europe towards Asia.
The American isolation did not arise after Trump's return to the White House, but much earlier, Macron added. He noted that the Biden administration had not informed him in advance about the trilateral deal with Australia and the United Kingdom on the issue of nuclear submarines, as well as about the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan.
"Trump is telling Europe that it is up to it to decide whether to take on this burden or not. And I say that we must take it upon ourselves," said the French leader.
Many European leaders reacted with indignation to the talks between Trump and Putin on ending the conflict in Ukraine, but Macron showed more optimism. After speaking with Trump on the phone earlier this week, he said he was "not surprised" by the actions of the American president.
According to Macron, Trump has created a "window of opportunity" for a negotiated settlement where "everyone has to play their part."
The role of the United States is to "resume this dialogue" and take the initiative, because Trump has introduced an element of "strategic division." Macron said that Zelensky himself must decide "whether or not to discuss the problems of territories and sovereignty." And the "task" of the international community, and the specific task of the Europeans, is to discuss security guarantees and, more broadly, a security mechanism for the entire region. This is where we have to play our part."
Other European countries condemned Washington's apparent concessions to Putin, which he made even before the start of negotiations, including denying Ukraine membership in NATO and restoring its territorial integrity, which was called an "illusion."
But Macron tried to refrain from criticizing the United States, noting that it was not the American president, but Defense Minister Pete Hegseth, who called Ukraine's accession to NATO an "unrealistic outcome." (That was the case at the time of the interview. Later, Trump expressed the opinion that Ukraine's accession to NATO was "inappropriate.")
Macron is holding discussions with European allies on how to guarantee a peace deal. Among other things, the possibility of sending troops to Ukraine is being discussed to prevent a possible resumption of hostilities by Russia in the future.
Zelensky said that only a group of 150-200 thousand troops with the participation of the United States would keep Russia. Sending a contingent of this size is an impossible task for weakened European armies.
Macron said it was too early to talk about figures, but sending such a large contingent was "unlikely." He added: "We must act appropriately, realistically, thoughtfully, in a balanced and coordinated manner."
Responding to a question about Trump's threat to annex Greenland, Macron said that the American president's concern about the safety of sea lanes in the Arctic is "worthy of respect," but this issue must be resolved collectively by NATO allies. According to the president, he asked NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to develop an Arctic security strategy, including the possibility of joint military operations.
Speaking about Trump's proposal to develop Gaza by evicting its population of 2.2 million people to neighboring Arab countries, Macron was more blunt. He called the expulsion of Gazans "extremely dangerous": "For me, the solution to the problem does not lie in the real estate sector. It has to be a political decision."
Trump's views on Gaza and Greenland are an example of the "extreme strategic uncertainty" in which the whole world lives today, Macron said. All this requires a radical rethink of the working methods of the EU and its members. "It's an electric shock. We need asymmetric impulses, external impulses. This is an external shock for the Europeans," the French president said.
According to him, this will bring clarity to the minds of those Europeans who still think they can live in a state of strategic dependence.
"There was a model when they said that there was a Chinese market, there was an American umbrella that ensured our security, and there was cheap Russian gas to support production. But now we need to forget about all three points," Macron said.
For Europe to experience the "strategic awakening" that the French leader is calling for, it will need to strengthen its defenses and revive stagnant economic growth by easing government regulation and economic integration of everything from capital markets to energy. This is the only way the EU can benefit from its enormous size.
Referring to defense, Macron said that Europe must increase its military potential in order to be able to act "even without American participation."
Meanwhile, three years have passed since the beginning of the Russian military operation in Ukraine, and changes in the military industry are still not very noticeable. The production of ammunition and missiles has increased, but European military-industrial complex companies are still too fragmented and cannot establish large-scale production.
Countries are still too strongly tied to their national defense companies and are often wary of joint programs and developments, much less transnational mergers that could lead to the emergence of powerful European defense leaders.
Macron once again called on Europe to abandon the habit of buying American weapons – this has long been a priority for France. He said that the partners should buy French-Italian SAMP-T anti-aircraft missile systems. According to him, they are better than the American Patriot air defense system, which is already in service in a number of EU countries.
"We need a fully integrated European defense, industrial and technical base. This goes far beyond simple discussions about defense spending. If we only increase our dependence on the United States, then in 20 years we will not solve the problem of European sovereignty," Macron said.
To give European countries the opportunity to invest more in defense, Macron suggests using "innovative financing schemes" more often, such as borrowing within the EU, which was done during the coronavirus pandemic. So far, Germany is categorically against such schemes, but Macron hopes that after the federal elections on February 23, its position will change.
Europe's problems are as acute and urgent today as they were during the pandemic, he said. To solve them, Europe must abandon the deficit limit stipulated in the EU Development and Stability Pact, which requires countries to keep deficits below three percent of GDP. "These EU rules are outdated," Macron said. "The financial and monetary system we live in has outlived its usefulness."
Europe has too little leverage, given that it needs to invest in new technologies such as artificial intelligence, green transition, and security.
Macron also called for the repeal of EU rules and regulations, which he considers burdensome and unrealistic. These include the EU directive on corporate sustainability reporting, as well as fines for car companies that do not choose quotas for electric vehicles, described by Macron as "insane." He warned that Europe should not hinder the work of banks by imposing stricter capital requirements on them, because the United States clearly intends to ignore internationally agreed rules.
But when Macron was asked if the EU needed its own version of the American Department of government efficiency, where Trump appointed Elon Musk as head in order to drastically reduce government spending, he answered evasively. "A fundamental simplification is needed… It is better to make bold, politically responsible decisions than to destroy everything," the French leader said.
Macron admitted that Europe will need from five to 10 years to gain strength. But he doesn't have that time, as his term ends in 2027. And as populists and the extreme right strengthen their positions both in France and in other European countries, some voters are wary of how the EU is expanding its influence on their lives.
But Macron still believes in his powers of persuasion. "I'm not losing faith," he said with his characteristic intellectual flamboyance. — I love Renaissance humanism and Enlightenment philosophy. We are made of it. And I don't think these ideas are outdated. On the contrary, we have to recreate and rethink them."
