During his speech at the Munich Security Conference on Friday, French President Emmanuel Macron delivered a pointed critique of U.S. policies under Donald Trump. Macron emphasized that Europe must demonstrate a “firm commitment to defend its interests” in order to maintain a strong position on the global stage.
He specifically referenced U.S. trade threats and Trump’s repeated claims about annexing Greenland, saying:
"If we want to be taken seriously on the European continent and beyond, we must show the world our unwavering commitment to defend our own interests. It starts with supporting Ukraine, but it also includes resisting unjustified tariffs and declining improper claims on European territory. This is what we have done, and this is what we will continue to do."
Trump himself commented on Greenland at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, stating: “Greenland is going to want us. We get along very well with Europe; we’ll see how it all works out. We’re negotiating right now for Greenland.”
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also addressed the importance of trans-Atlantic relations, calling for a “new trans-Atlantic partnership” to rebuild trust between the U.S. and Europe. He noted that a significant divide has emerged and said:
"The culture war of the MAGA movement in the U.S. is not ours. The freedom of speech ends where it is used against human dignity and the constitution. We believe in free trade, not protectionism. In the era of great-power rivalry, even the United States cannot go it alone. NATO is not just Europe’s competitive advantage it’s also America’s. We must work together to repair and strengthen trans-Atlantic trust."
This exchange highlights ongoing tensions over trade, territorial ambitions, and differing visions of global leadership between the U.S. and European powers.
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