CESSON-SEVIGNE, France — On Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron urged Europe to take action and enhance its defense spending as a means to lessen its dependence on the United States for security, especially in light of Donald Trump’s potential return to leadership. This call to action was part of his New Year’s address to the French military at the Army Digital and Cyber Support Command facility in western France.
Macron expressed concerns about upcoming shifts in U.S. foreign policy, particularly regarding the ongoing situation in Ukraine, and labeled it an “opportunity for a European strategic wake-up call.” He posed the critical question: “What will we do in Europe tomorrow if our American ally withdraws its warships from the Mediterranean? If they send their fighter jets from the Atlantic to the Pacific?” His comments reflect worries about Europe’s security landscape in the absence of robust U.S. support.
With Trump having publicly criticized the financial implications of U.S. military aid to Ukraine, he has indicated a desire to transfer a greater portion of the defense responsibilities to Europe. Trump aims to resolve the conflict swiftly, suggesting that peace could be achievable within six months if negotiations are prioritized.
Macron emphasized that France and Europe need to continually adapt to evolving threats and shifting priorities. He highlighted recent geopolitical developments, like the increased focus on Greenland, to illustrate how rapidly circumstances can change. He underscored the importance of maintaining ongoing support for Ukraine to ensure that it is well-positioned in any forthcoming peace discussions.
He stated that Ukraine must receive “guarantees” against any resurgence of conflict once hostilities cease and called for Europe to “play its full role” in this effort. In discussions with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last week, there were considerations regarding the deployment of Western troops to ensure the security of any peace settlement following the protracted war with Russia.
Zelenskyy mentioned the dialogue around a French initiative aiming to send military contingents into Ukraine as a form of guarantee. However, the prospect of positioning European troops as peacekeepers presents significant challenges. Such actions could fail to deter future aggression from Russia, raising concerns among Ukrainian officials about escalating risks, including the possibility of dragging European nations into direct conflict with Moscow. This could, in turn, involve NATO and the United States in a larger conflict.
