Macron: Europe Needs Own Strategy in Defense

Date: 16 November 2020 - 21:12

News ID: ۸۴۹۰۰

PARIS (Dispatches) -- Europe still needs its own independent and sovereign defense strategy, even if it is dealing with a new U.S. government which may result in friendlier ties, French President Emmanuel Macron told the "Revue Grand Continent” publication.
In an interview with the publication, Macron rebuffed comments from German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer to Politico on Nov. 2, in which the German minister said Europe would have to remain dependent on U.S. military protection for the near future.
"I am in complete disagreement with the opinion article published in Politico by the German defense minister,” said Macron, adding he believed German Chancellor Angela Merkel shared his position on this issue.
"The United States will only respect us as allies if we are serious about our own position, and if we have our own sovereignty regarding our defense,” said Macron.
"We need to continue to build up our own autonomy, just as the United States does for itself, and just as China does for itself,” added Macron.
Macron spoke to U.S. President-elect Joe Biden on Nov 10, and told Biden he was ready to work with him on issues such as the climate, health, and the fight against terrorism.
Last November, Macron said he believes NATO is now experiencing "brain death”, citing a lack of coordination between Europe and the U.S. and unilateral actions in Syria by Turkey.
In an interview with The Economist magazine, Macron warned that European countries were "on the edge of a precipice” and needed to reclaim "control of our destiny.”
The French leader described the North Atlantic Treaty Organization as strategically and politically defunct, warning Europeans that they could no longer rely on America to defend NATO allies.
He said there were clear signs that America, under the presidency of Donald Trump, was "turning its back on us.”
"NATO as a system doesn’t regulate its members,” Macron noted, adding, "So as soon as you have a member who feels they have a right to head off on their own, granted by the USA, they do it.”
"It’s not in our interest” to push Turkey out of NATO "but perhaps to reconsider what NATO is.”
Macron said European countries needed to see NATO for what it is and get themselves out of it. "What we are currently experiencing is the brain death of NATO,” Macron said, adding, it was high time for Europe to "wake up”.