Critique of Macron’s European strategy
Critical and criticized. Emmanuel Macron praised, this Wednesday, April 1st, in Tokyo, the “predictability” of Europe in contrast to the unpredictability preferred by Donald Trump’s United States, who launched a war in the Middle East without “warning” his allies. At the same time, the French head of state faces snubs from the U.S. and Israel.
“I know that sometimes Europe can be seen as a continent that is slower than others,” the French president declared in front of a group of Japanese business leaders and investors on the second day of his visit to Japan. “Predictability has value, and we have shown it all these years, and dare I say even these recent weeks: we are where you know we will go,” he added. “It’s not bad, in the current times, believe me,” he insisted, as you can see in the video at the top of the article.
Emmanuel Macron, on the other hand, criticized those who say “we, we go much faster,” but “you don’t know if the day after tomorrow they will still be in that place and if tomorrow they will not make a decision that can hurt you without even warning you.” An allusion to the war launched over a month ago by the American president and Israel against Iran, whose response effectively blocks the Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf, a key maritime passage for oil exports from the Middle East.
France and Europe in a new light
Japan depends on this region for 95% of its crude oil imports and therefore suffers from the repercussions of the conflict, which has also driven up energy costs and also affects Europe. Before meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in the afternoon, Emmanuel Macron mentioned these “dramatic impacts on energy.” “Europe stands by your side,” he declared
“With the same consistency, we are also on the side of international law” and “the return of diplomacy,” “we believe in a negotiated solution,” the head of state emphasized. He therefore urged Japanese economic actors to “look at France and Europe with new eyes.” Objective: “do much more and much stronger” in Franco-Japanese partnerships, especially in the fields of quantum, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, space, and defense.
Emmanuel Macron assured seeing a convergence between “French and European strategy” and “Japanese strategy,” aiming to “build a prosperity of the 21st century that is balanced,” “in an environment of peace” and “democratic values,” without “depending on hegemonic powers,” China and the United States.
Israel’s response to French actions
Meanwhile, the French president is criticized by the United States, who accuse Paris of being “very uncooperative” in the war in Iran. And by Israel, who denounces its “hostile” policy towards the Hebrew state.
