PARIS (Washington Insider Magazine) – French President Emmanuel Macron renewed his call for Europe to take on more responsibility for its own defense on Tuesday, emphasizing that Europe has “too long avoided bearing the burden of its own security.” His comments, made alongside NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte during a visit to Paris, come as tensions rise with the re-election of Donald Trump as U.S. President.
Macron expressed satisfaction that more European nations were aligning with his long-standing call for increased defense investment.
“The agenda of European strategic autonomy will enable us to build capacity, increase funding, and strengthen cooperation with our non-European allies within the NATO framework,”
he said.
The backdrop of these remarks is Trump’s questioning of Washington’s commitment to defend NATO allies, as well as his stance on reducing U.S. support for Ukraine or potentially negotiating with Russia to end its invasion. These positions have sparked renewed urgency in Europe, which has historically relied on the U.S. for military protection.
Macron stressed that decisions regarding Ukraine should be made by Ukrainians and that Europe must have a more active role in its own defense. “Building up homegrown military capacity will be a long-term effort,” he acknowledged.
He and Rutte also condemned the cooperation between Russia and North Korea, calling it a dangerous escalation in the Ukraine conflict. Rutte added that the involvement of North Korean troops alongside Russian forces not only threatens Europe but also the security of the Indo-Pacific and North America.
“Russia, in collaboration with North Korea, Iran, and China, is not just a threat to Europe but to global peace and security,”
Rutte said, calling for stronger transatlantic unity.
“We must do more than just keep Ukraine in the fight; we must raise the cost for Putin and his authoritarian allies by providing the necessary support to change the conflict’s trajectory.”
Both leaders emphasized the need for continued cooperation among Europe, North America, and global partners to confront growing threats and maintain a united front in the face of Russia’s aggression.
