France’s President Emmanuel Macron, a staunch globalist, is making waves once again by urging European Union nations to prioritize European-made defense equipment over American alternatives. This comes amidst growing tensions between the U.S. and France, with Macron aiming to sway EU countries away from their reliance on U.S. military hardware.
Just a day before French MEP Raphaël Glucksmann’s fiery critique of the U.S., calling for the return of the Statue of Liberty, Macron made his stance clear in an interview with several French publications, including Le Parisien.
Macron’s Push for European Defense
Macron emphasized: “My intention is to go and convince European states that have become accustomed to buying American. Those who buy Patriot should be offered the new-generation Franco-Italian SAMP/T. Those who buy the F-35 should be offered the Rafale. That’s the way to increase the rate of production.”
According to Politico Europe, European NATO members are heavily reliant on U.S. weapons. For instance, both the Netherlands and Belgium continue to purchase American F-35 fighter jets, while Portugal debates switching from U.S.-made F-16s to newer F-35s, given the current U.S. stance within NATO.
Macron has tasked French defense companies with streamlining processes and reducing costs to better compete on a global scale, as reported by Nice-Matin.
Support for Ukraine and Critique of Russia
In the same interview, Macron outlined potential European troop deployments to Ukraine, intending to support and train Ukrainian forces. He dismissed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s terms for a ceasefire as unacceptable, warning against any agreement that would lead to a “partial invasion of Ukraine and a freeze on the conflict.”
Boycott Against American Products Grows
Macron’s comments coincide with an increasing movement within Europe to boycott American goods, a reaction to the strained relations under the Trump administration. A Facebook group, “Boycott USA: Buy French and European!”, has rapidly gained traction, now boasting over 20,000 followers who share alternatives to popular U.S. brands.
Across Northern Europe, particularly in Sweden and Denmark, similar boycott initiatives are gaining significant support, with some groups reaching nearly 80,000 members. These communities are actively circulating lists of American companies to avoid.
The boycott is notably impacting Tesla, the electric vehicle giant led by Elon Musk, an ally of President Trump, with its European sales plummeting by 50% compared to the previous year.
