Macron Calls on Europe to Increase Defense Expenditures as Trump Takes Office

Trump’s entry to office has prompted French President Emmanuel Macron to urge European countries to boost defense spending.

Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, has called on Europe to “wake up” and boost defense expenditure in order to lessen its reliance on the US for security.

In a Monday speech to the French military, Macron presented Donald Trump’s comeback as a chance for Europe to reassess its geopolitical objectives.

During his New Year’s speech at the Army Digital and Cyber Support Command in western France, Macron emphasized how Trump would change US foreign policy, especially with reference to the conflict in Ukraine.

If the battleships of our American friend leave the Mediterranean, what will we do in Europe tomorrow? If their fighter planes are sent from the Atlantic to the Pacific? “What?” he inquired.

Trump has expressed disapproval of the cost of US military assistance to Ukraine and stated his desire to give Europe greater authority. Aiming for a peace deal within six months, he has also promised to expedite the conflict’s settlement.

Macron emphasized how Europe must change to meet evolving geopolitical realities and challenges.

Who could have predicted that Greenland would be at the forefront of strategic and political discussions a year ago? That’s just the way things are,” he said.

The French president underlined how crucial it is to continue to help Ukraine so that Kyiv can come into any future peace talks with strength. Additionally, he emphasized the need to offer Ukraine “guarantees” in order to stop war from breaking out on its soil again.

As part of a ceasefire agreement, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed last week that he had spoken with Macron about the potential for Western military deployments in Ukraine.

Zelenskyy stated, “We discussed the French initiative to deploy military contingents in Ukraine as one of these guarantees.”

In his closing remarks, Macron urged Europe to play a “full role” in ensuring a durable peace in Ukraine, emphasizing the necessity of a coordinated effort to adjust to changing global conditions.