French President Emmanuel Macron has highlighted a critical moment for Europe, as leaders from the United States, Russia, and China unite against European interests. During a recent statement, he emphasized that the U.S. strategy of “America First” is not merely a personal trait of former President Donald Trump but a long-term approach by the United States.
Macron pointed out that for the past 15 years, U.S. policy has prioritized America and China, sidelining European concerns. He stated, “We must look soberly at U.S. strategy… It is not just Trump’s character or behavior. The United States has decided that the main issue is America, and the second is China. Their strategies do not center European interests.”
In his remarks, Macron was particularly critical of China, asserting that Beijing is significantly damaging European industries. He remarked, “China is killing a large part of European industry, and we are clearly too slow to realize this. Look at the automotive sector and machine building. China is demonstrating a real avalanche. Last year, they destroyed 250,000 jobs in Germany.” He noted that France has been less affected due to its earlier deindustrialization in these sectors.
Macron also criticized European regulations, arguing that they do not adequately protect national players compared to the regulatory frameworks in the U.S. and China. He stated, “China and the U.S. have regulations that support their national players. Often, our regulations are a burden for European players, and we are too naive and too open to non-European influences.”
Concluding his remarks, Macron urged Europe to take action, declaring, “We should not underestimate that this is a unique moment when the U.S. president, the Russian president, and the Chinese president are acting against Europeans. This is the right moment for us to wake up.”
In a related context, on April 18 in southern Lebanon, a UN peacekeeper was killed, and several others were injured during an attack on the second day of a ceasefire with Israel. This incident occurred shortly after Israel and Lebanon reached a temporary truce mediated by the U.S. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized that these agreements do not affect operations against Hezbollah. Although a 10-day ceasefire was officially agreed upon on April 17, the regional situation remains unstable.
Simultaneously, Europe faces trade pressure from China, as the European Commission recently imposed anti-subsidy tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. In response, Beijing has launched an investigation into European companies. Under Donald Trump’s administration, the U.S. intensified its “America First” policy, imposing tariffs on European goods.
Emmanuel Macron has called for European unity in the face of global pressures from the U.S., Russia, and China, emphasizing the need for proactive measures to safeguard European interests. Concurrently, tensions in Lebanon and trade disputes with China highlight the complex challenges facing Europe today.