In an interview after returning from an official visit to China, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that Europe should avoid becoming a US satellite, including when talking about Taiwan’s security issues, writes Politico.
Macron’s remarks, which came immediately after his visit to China, which in turn coincided with China’s simulation of an attack on Taiwan (which the United States has pledged to protect), created a fire-like effect. Many have responded, including high-level current and former US officials.
The French president’s
interview has once again caused outrage, followed by attempts to explain or otherwise translate what Macron said.
This is reminiscent of other controversial statements. In 2019, the Frenchman told The Economist that NATO had experienced “brain death”. A few months after Russia’s criminal invasion of Ukraine, Macron announced the need for security guarantees for the Russian president.
A few hours after Politico and Les Echos’ interview with the French president was published, a number of his defenders came forward, explaining that the president’s comments were not only mistranslated but also misunderstood by the English-speaking world’s media because they were not capable enough to understand Macron’s complex train of thought.
If the fault lies with the foreign media, which is biased and distorts what the president says, then one should be concerned about how often this happens. However, this is unlikely to be the cause.
Rather, Macron is aware of the uproar his speech will cause and is using it to his advantage
to pander to the desires of an audience at home, where many enjoy the spectacle of France’s attitude toward the United States.
He can also use loud expressions to distract. Since the beginning of the year, but especially in recent weeks, there have been widespread, harsh, and troublesome protests against raising the retirement age. The president’s government narrowly passed a no-confidence vote on the 20th of March, and his own popularity has fallen seriously.
Macron’s comments about China, the US, and Taiwan, however suitable for big headlines, are unlikely to affect the unpleasant situation at home.
When it comes to the international scene, such behavior leaves a bad impression. The president’s comments not only provoke the anger of US officials but also draw closer attention to his “autonomy concept”. Americans are beginning to question the reliability of France as an ally.
Macron has indicated that France is making progress in making the case for strategic autonomy at the European level. It is only natural that Europe does not follow the lead of the US, because it is important for it to increase security and promote prosperity in its own backyard. However, critics have pointed out that France’s role in promoting autonomy is debatable even in Europe. Most European leaders agree that after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the issue of security is particularly important. Conquering Ukraine could encourage Russia to reach out to the countries on the eastern flank of the European Union.
When it comes to support for Ukraine, France is far from being in the top three,
and that adds fuel to the fire as well. Critics point out that European ties with the USA can be completely severed, but will France be able to give Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania the same security guarantees as NATO? Data on support for Ukraine suggest that this is unlikely.
Meanwhile, the audience is tired. Referring to the backlash that followed Macron’s comments about France, Le Monde wrote: “When misunderstandings happen so regularly, one has to start asking questions about whether a certain foreign policy practice is being followed.”
Read also: Ukraine and the Baltic states rebunk Macron’s statements