In a recent interview, French President Emmanuel Macron questioned Europe’s devotion to the United States, which alarmed people on both sides of the Atlantic.
He said in the interview that the “worst thing” would be to “take our cue from the U.S. agenda and a Chinese overreaction.”
Macron’s remarks, which were delivered Friday before China began combat drills around Taiwan.
In retaliation for the Taiwanese president’s visit to the United States last week, were criticised by elected politicians in both the United States and Europe.
Macron’s remarks, according to the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), are “severely out of touch” with the leadership of the European Union. “You do not speak for Europe,” it declared.
In an interview with Michel Martin on NPR’s Morning Edition, Noah Barkin, a senior advisor with the China practise of the research company Rhodium Group, describes Macron’s comments as “concerning” from a U.S. standpoint.
“I don’t think that Macron’s messages necessarily reflect the European consensus on China,” the man remarked.
For length and clarity, this interview has been gently modified.
Anyone who followed the trip would have noticed that Macron’s contacts with Xi Jinping and the sentiments he conveyed in several interviews later were, in my opinion, alarming from a U.S. standpoint.
But I believe it’s important to keep in mind that France is just one of the 27 EU members, and there are a lot of other nations that have different viewpoints.
On the criticism of Macron’s words throughout Europe
European political figures are unlikely to publicly reject or criticise Macron, in my opinion. For instance, a number of high-ranking German officials have publicly criticised Macron.
However, it will be interesting to see how this develops. I anticipate that the EU will have lengthy discussions over China policy in the coming months.
Regarding Macron’s demand for greater strategic autonomy
This notion of strategic autonomy has long been championed by France, and it really picked up steam under the Trump administration. Both China and the United States were worried about trying to dictate decisions to Europe.
Regarding the relationship between the US and France
Looking ahead, I believe that the U.S. and France have resolved their differences regarding the U.S., U.K., and Australia’s nuclear submarine treaty known as AUKUS.
The messy withdrawal from Afghanistan has been forgotten in Europe and the United States. My impression is that while this is undoubtedly troubling, Europe and the United States can overcome it.
