Macron Advocates for 'Massive Defense Plan' for the EU
Emmanuel Macron has proposed a strategy to boost EU defense expenditures and reduce reliance on the United States. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
The European Union needs to establish a "massive defense plan" and increase military funding in response to heightened tensions with Russia and US President Donald Trump's approach to the Ukraine situation, French President Emmanuel Macron stated.
During a Q&A session on X on Thursday, Macron emphasized the necessity for EU nations to decrease their dependence on the US over the next five to ten years.
“We need innovative European spending to innovate together, maybe, in the first place to help Ukraine, but also for ourselves,” he noted, advocating for substantial military investment to be initiated “in the coming weeks.”
Macron asserted that the world has entered a “new era” that necessitates raising defense budgets while the general population's purchasing power declines.
He also highlighted the changes in the US's strategy regarding the Ukraine conflict, particularly following high-level discussions between US officials and their Russian counterparts, the first since February 2022.
“I’m going to tell him [US President Donald Trump]: ‘You can’t be weak with [Russian President Vladimir] Putin. That’s not who you are, it’s not your trademark, it’s not in your interest,” Macron remarked, noting his upcoming meeting with Trump in Washington on Monday.
For years, Macron has advocated for the formation of a "European army," an idea he initially proposed in 2018 during Trump’s first term. However, his previous remarks did not lead to meaningful action, as NATO officials expressed concerns about a new army potentially competing with the bloc rather than complementing it.
Trump has repeatedly urged Washington’s European allies to increase their defense expenditures, arguing that the US shoulders a disproportionate burden.
In the wake of the EU's exclusion from the recent US-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia, Macron convened an emergency summit aimed at fostering the bloc’s unity and exploring ways to secure its involvement in resolving the Ukraine crisis.
President Putin has dismissed the notion that Russia intends to attack Western nations, labeling such speculations as “nonsense.” He has also reiterated that NATO’s expansion towards Russia's borders is a fundamental factor contributing to the Ukraine conflict.
Sophie Wagner contributed to this report for TROIB News
During a Q&A session on X on Thursday, Macron emphasized the necessity for EU nations to decrease their dependence on the US over the next five to ten years.
“We need innovative European spending to innovate together, maybe, in the first place to help Ukraine, but also for ourselves,” he noted, advocating for substantial military investment to be initiated “in the coming weeks.”
Macron asserted that the world has entered a “new era” that necessitates raising defense budgets while the general population's purchasing power declines.
He also highlighted the changes in the US's strategy regarding the Ukraine conflict, particularly following high-level discussions between US officials and their Russian counterparts, the first since February 2022.
“I’m going to tell him [US President Donald Trump]: ‘You can’t be weak with [Russian President Vladimir] Putin. That’s not who you are, it’s not your trademark, it’s not in your interest,” Macron remarked, noting his upcoming meeting with Trump in Washington on Monday.
For years, Macron has advocated for the formation of a "European army," an idea he initially proposed in 2018 during Trump’s first term. However, his previous remarks did not lead to meaningful action, as NATO officials expressed concerns about a new army potentially competing with the bloc rather than complementing it.
Trump has repeatedly urged Washington’s European allies to increase their defense expenditures, arguing that the US shoulders a disproportionate burden.
In the wake of the EU's exclusion from the recent US-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia, Macron convened an emergency summit aimed at fostering the bloc’s unity and exploring ways to secure its involvement in resolving the Ukraine crisis.
President Putin has dismissed the notion that Russia intends to attack Western nations, labeling such speculations as “nonsense.” He has also reiterated that NATO’s expansion towards Russia's borders is a fundamental factor contributing to the Ukraine conflict.
Sophie Wagner contributed to this report for TROIB News
