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French President Emmanuel Macron is stepping up diplomatic efforts to persuade European Union countries to reduce their dependence on US military equipment and favour European manufacturers. This was reported by Politico.
“Buy European”
Macron said that EU countries that buy US Patriot air defence systems should consider an alternative in the form of the new generation Franco-Italian SAMP/T system. And those who buy US F-35 fighters should consider the French Rafale.
“My task is to convince European countries that are used to buying American products that they have local alternatives. This will increase the rate of production in Europe,” Macron said in an interview with French media Nice-Matin and Le Parisien.
The French leader’s call came amid growing dependence on American weapons by European NATO members. The Netherlands and Belgium have recently confirmed plans for further F-35 purchases, while Portugal is still hesitant to replace its F-16s with the new F-35s due to tensions with the United States.
Will European armaments become competitive?
To make European military products more attractive, Macron called on French defence companies to cut red tape and reduce costs.
The French president also explained his vision of a possible deployment of European troops to help Ukraine. He proposed sending “several thousand troops to key regions” to train the Ukrainian military and strengthen long-term support.
Macron’s position on the war in Ukraine
Macron has harshly criticised the terms of the ceasefire proposed by the Kremlin.
“This would mean the actual consolidation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the freezing of the conflict without any security guarantees for the future. This is unacceptable,” he stressed.
Voluntary service reform in France
In addition to foreign policy initiatives, Macron announced the reform of the Service National Universel, a voluntary service programme for young people aged 15-17. It includes sports activities, civic education and work in governmental or non-governmental organisations.
Nevertheless, the French president categorically rejected the possibility of reintroducing compulsory military service.
What’s next?
France is trying to strengthen its position in the European security sphere by reducing its dependence on the United States. However, whether European partners will support Macron’s initiative remains an open question.
