French President calls for substantial financial commitment as EU leaders prepare for next summit.
Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, expressed optimism in a recent interview regarding the swift establishment of a large-scale financial arrangement for the development of shared defence capabilities among European Union member states.
Macron suggested that the investment could reach several hundred billion euros.
The announcement was made ahead of an upcoming EU summit scheduled for next Thursday, where EU leaders are expected to request the European Commission to assess the necessary capability requirements.
Macron indicated that building a European defence structure, which could be considered autonomous relative to NATO, may take between five to ten years.
He highlighted a growing sense of uncertainty among European nations regarding the reliability of American support, acknowledging a significant shift in strategic awareness across the continent.
Moreover, the French President underscored the importance of initiating strategic dialogues with European countries that do not possess nuclear weapons, noting that France’s existing nuclear deterrent could enhance collective security.
Macron pointed out that these nations could no longer rely solely on American nuclear deterrence.
In relation to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Macron warned that if Vladimir Putin is not halted, Russian aggression could potentially extend to Moldova and perhaps even Romania.
He reinforced the United States' vested interest in remaining engaged in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, asserting that the current American approach aligns with longstanding diplomatic and military traditions.
Macron further articulated concerns that if the White House agrees to a ceasefire in Ukraine without providing security guarantees, it could erode the geostrategic deterrent capabilities of the U.S. in relation to Russia, China, and other global powers.
In closing, Macron called for calm and mutual respect between U.S. President
Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in order to facilitate concrete progress in resolving the ongoing conflict.