FRANCE Macron: Europe cannot depend on US for security

The European Union must stop depending on the United States for security and must now rely on its own military forces for protection, France’s President Emmanuel Macron said. In a speech to French ambassadors on Monday, Macron said he would put forward new proposals to the EU to boost security and that all European nations, […]

The European Union must stop depending on the United States for security and must now rely on its own military forces for protection, France’s President Emmanuel Macron said.

In a speech to French ambassadors on Monday, Macron said he would put forward new proposals to the EU to boost security and that all European nations, including Russia, should be involved in discussions on defence cooperation.

“Europe cannot rely on the United States only for its security,” he said. “It is up to us to meet our responsibilities and guarantee our security.”

During the speech, Macron said cooperation with Russia should occur on the condition that progress is made with Moscow on the fighting in eastern Ukraine.

Macron called on Europe to be “a trade and economic power” that defends its strategic interests and financial independence with tools that can fend off US extraterritorial sanctions.