Macron Criticizes Trump and Calls on Allies to Unite Against US

Article content(Bloomberg) — French President Emmanuel Macron is calling on medium-sized powers to join forces and stand up to the US and China.Sign In or Create an AccountEmail AddressContinueor View more offersArticle contentMacron hammered the message during his tour of Asia this week, where he discussed maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz and closer cooperation with South Korea and Japan — two countries badly suffering from high energy costs as the war in Iran keeps the strait closed. Article contentWe apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Article content“Our objective is not to be the vassals of two hegemonic powers,” he told students in Seoul. “We don’t want to depend on the dominance, let’s say on China, or we don’t want to be too much exposed to the unpredictability of the US.”Article contentArticle contentEuropean countries, he said, have a shared agenda with places like Japan and South Korea on issues like international law, democracy, climate change and global health. Article contentTop StoriesGet the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.There was an error, please provide a valid email address.Sign UpBy signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.Thanks for signing up!A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againInterested in more newsletters? Browse here.Article contentHe ticked off other similarly aligned countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada and India. Together, he argued, this coalition can work on artificial intelligence, space, energy, nuclear energy, defense, security — “whatever.”Article contentMacron, who oversees the European Union’s sole nuclear power and its most powerful defense industry, has long been calling for Europe to counterbalance the US and China. During a trip to China in 2023, he sparked outrage among US allies in Asia and Europe when he said the EU should not be a “vassal” of the US. He warned against being drawn into a Taiwan conflict, at a time when China was conducting a drill around the self-ruling island, which Beijing claims as its own.Article contentOver the past few years, following a tradition established by France’s World War II leader Charles De Gaulle, Macron has repeatedly sought to strike a middle path between China and the US, warning against a split in the global order.Article contentArticle contentBut with the US flouting international institutions, the traditional French position is resonating differently. Macron will push his message in June when he hosts the G-7 summit in France.Article contentMacron’s pleas come as US President Donald Trump has also renewed his attacks against NATO and other allies, specifically blasting France and South Korea for not helping him enough in Iran.Article contentTrump targeted France for not allowing US military planes to fly over French territory, calling the country “VERY UNHELPFUL” and adding “The U.S.A. will REMEMBER!!!” in a social media post. Macron has repeatedly said that France was not consulted over the war and is not a part of it.Article content“The US is a great country,” Macron said, but is risking opening “Pandora’s Box” with its current approach.Article content“I don’t believe that we will fix the situation just by bombing or by military operations,” he argued, alluding to Iran. The French leader cited Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan: “We never deliver.”Article contentMacron has instead called for a “deconfliction mechanism with Iran,” and proposed an escort mission for vessels in the Strait of Hormuz once bombings end.Article contentThe Middle East conflict has halted commercial shipping in the strait, through which roughly a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas exports normally flow. Article contentTrending CRA denied taxpayer with multiple health issues the disability tax credit Personal Finance Subscriber only. How a Buddhist monk's advice helped this Canadian philanthropist amass a fortune Subscriber only High Net Worth Fighting U.S. tariffs, Canada mulls its own as cheap imports surge Economy U.S. targets Canada’s cloud-computing move as trade irritant Economy Canada’s Irving turns to Newfoundland for oil on Iran disruption Oil & Gas Share this article in your social networkCommentsYou must be logged in to join the discussion or read more comments.Create an AccountSign in Join the Conversation Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information. CRA denied taxpayer with multiple health issues the disability tax credit Personal Finance Subscriber only. How a Buddhist monk's advice helped this Canadian philanthropist amass a fortune Subscriber only High Net Worth Fighting U.S. tariffs, Canada mulls its own as cheap imports surge Economy U.S. targets Canada’s cloud-computing move as trade irritant Economy Canada’s Irving turns to Newfoundland for oil on Iran disruption Oil & Gas