French President Emmanuel Macron delivered a speech in Paris that hinted at a sense of defeat, urging the European Union to come to terms with its vulnerabilities amidst a world fraught with uncertainties.
Commenting on international affairs, Macron made a plea for the EU to become “the third pillar of stability” in what he characterised as an increasingly “dysfunctional world”.
Against the backdrop of potential political shifts in the United States, Russia’s escalating actions in Ukraine, and China’s economic dominance challenging global trade norms, Macron portrayed a picture of a weakened EU grappling to assert itself on the global stage.
Macron’s concerns took centre stage as he cautioned against the repercussions of allowing Russia to succeed in its aggression against Ukraine. “Letting Russia win the war means accepting that international rules, as we once defined them, are over,” he said, painting a bleak picture of the challenges facing neighbouring nations.
Expressing a sense of resignation, Macron claimed that only a “geopolitically capable” EU, “capable of defending itself,” can confront the challenges posed by the United States, even amid the potential resurgence of a Donald Trump presidency.
The French President seemed to reluctantly concede the need for the EU to establish a semblance of independence, acknowledging its vulnerability and the risks of relying on the US for its sovereignty.
“The US’s first priority is itself. The second is China,” Macron said, offering an assessment of the EU’s standing in the face of shifting global priorities.
He underscored the inevitability of the EU having to navigate international relations without being overly dependent on the United States, a message that resonated with a tone of defeat.
Macron’s statements not only reflected the changing dynamics in global politics but also conveyed a sense of defeatism, underscoring the significant challenges the European Union must confront and overcome in ensuring its relevance in an ever-evolving world.
