Macron’s attempts at independent Europe prompts concerns By Phillip A. Howard
French President Emmanuel Macron has been calling for European military independence from the United States while reaching out to Russia, angering the Trump administration and former Soviet nations.
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, Macron said “we [Europe] need some freedom of action…we need our own strategy; we need to develop our strategy.”
Macron highlighted specific ideas and observed that Mediterranean policy is “a European thing, not a transatlantic thing, and the same goes for Russia- we need a European policy, not just a transatlantic policy.”
In a weekend that witnessed disputes between Washington and Europe over China-related issues, many were skeptical about Macron’s bid for European leadership.
One senior U.S. official familiar with the matter stated that “everyone in the alliance, besides France, wants the transatlantic bond” and that separating from America will divide Europe.
Jens Stoltenberg (EPA)
The response to Macron was swift. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that “the 28 NATO allies work together to ensure peace every day, and that’s not just a promise, it’s been that way for decades.”
German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer said that Europe is protected “by the American nuclear umbrella” and that “if we reinforce Europe’s defense, we have to reinforce the European presence within NATO.”
Multiple warnings have also been issued to France urging them not tighten relations with Russia. Russia has not removed troops from Ukraine following their invasion of the Crimean Peninsula in 2014.
Despite the backlash, skepticism remains about President Trump’s commitment to NATO. Trump has at times stated that he supports NATO’s efforts, though doubts remain.
Phillip Howard is a graduate student at Utica College
