French President Emmanuel Macron has called for stronger, more integrated European defenses as he outlined his vision for a more assertive European Union on the global stage. Macron warned "Europe today is mortal. It could die."

Paris

French President Emmanuel Macron has called for a stronger and more integrated defense system within Europe, voicing concerns over the continent's vulnerability in the current global political climate. In a recent keynote speech delivered at the Sorbonne University in Paris, Macron emphasized the urgency of reinforcing European defenses to ensure the EU's sovereignty and global assertiveness. He starkly warned that "Europe today is mortal. It could die," highlighting the critical juncture at which Europe stands.

In his speech, Macron outlined his vision for a Europe capable of defending itself with reduced reliance on external powers, notably the United States. His proposals included enhancing Europe’s cyber security measures, strengthening defense ties with Britain, and the establishment of a European academy for the training of high-ranking military personnel. Macron’s call to action reflects his perception of Europe being increasingly encircled by external powers, with specific references to the growing military capabilities of regional powers such as Russia and Iran.

This vision for Europe's strategic autonomy is not new to Macron's political agenda but gains additional significance amidst the Sino-American tensions and the potential return of Donald Trump to the White House. Trump has criticized Europe for depending too heavily on the US for defense, intensifying the discourse around European strategic autonomy. With Macron’s second and final term nearing its end, and with major EU policy shifts at stake, the French President is vigorously pushing for Europe to stand united in bolstering its defense capabilities to navigate the complexities of modern geopolitical challenges.



Macron warns 'Europe could die' without stronger defenses

Europe today is mortal. It could die. That's what French President Emmanuel Macron warned on Thursday in a speech at the Sorbonne University in Paris. He called for stronger, more integrated European defences as he outlined his vision for an increasingly assertive European Union on the global stage. We have to be clear about the fact that our Europe today is mortal. It could die. It could die and that depends solely on our choices. Thursday's speech was billed by Macron's advisers as France's contribution to the EU's strategic agenda for the next five years. With just three years left of his second and final term in office, the 46-year-old wants to show his critics he retains the energy and fresh thinking that brought him the presidency in 2017. In the nearly two-hour monologue, he said Russia must not be allowed to win in Ukraine and called for a boost in Europe's cyber security capacity, closer defence ties with Britain and a European academy to train high-ranking military personnel. The Sino-American tension has led to a growth in spending on arms and technological innovation, to the increase in military capability. We now have regional powers which are increasing their capacity, Russia and Iran to mention just two. And Europe is in a situation of being encircled, pushed by a number of these powers on its borders and sometimes from within. Macron has long called for a European strategic autonomy involving less reliance on the United States, a stance that has gained greater resonance in the face of Donald Trump's bid to return to the White House. The presidential hopeful has often accused Europe of freeloading on defence at the US expense. Building a Europe that can show that it is never the vassal of the United States of America and that it also knows how to speak to all regions in the world. Many EU officials believe there is currently no credible alternative to the US military umbrella. The French leader will be hoping Thursday's speech will have the same impact as the similar address at the Sorbonne he made seven years ago that prefigured some significant EU policy shifts.

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