During his talks in Athens with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, French President Emmanuel Macron stated,
"We must not underestimate the fact that this is a unique moment when the United States, Russia, and China all stand opposed to Europeans. This is precisely the time for us to 'wake up.'
Macron believes that 'Europe needs greater confidence and must pursue its own agenda.' He also emphasized that he has no confidence in the reliability of the United States as an ally.
Macron’s remarks in Athens represent a continuation and upgrading of his long-standing advocacy for 'European strategic autonomy,' which could aptly be described as a 'real-world coming-of-age ceremony.' These statements are both a profound analysis of harsh realities and a strong signal pushing for European unity and cohesion.
The core of Macron’s message clearly targets the United States and its president, Donald Trump.
For the first time, Macron explicitly grouped Trump alongside Chinese and Russian leaders, stating outright that all three have 'firmly opposed' European interests.
He warned that the collective defense clause is being 'factually weakened' due to Trump’s cavalier attitude—a cornerstone of the transatlantic alliance.
He stressed that America’s unpredictability is not an anomaly but part of a 'historical trend' that will persist beyond the Trump era. He has already admitted that he no longer views the United States as an 'absolutely reliable' ally.
He advocates strengthening the 'European pillar' within NATO. In concrete terms, he is pushing for the establishment of a nuclear deterrent system independent of U.S. control, and has signed a rare Franco-Greek defense agreement containing mutual defense clauses, extending it for five years to ensure that if one nation is attacked, the other's defense forces will directly intervene.
To Macron, Russia is not only a security threat but also exploiting divisions to weaken Europe; China, meanwhile, poses systemic competition in economic and technological domains.
He warned that without united action, Europe risks being 'wiped out' in the fierce competition with both the United States and China, even becoming a 'contented vassal' between great powers. This anxiety serves as the core driving force behind his vigorous push for a 'Europe-first' policy.
Macron’s statements mark a coming-of-age moment for Europe—an abrupt awakening to reality. He rejects the simplistic narrative of a 'triple villain' comprising the U.S., Russia, and China, instead revealing the erosion of trust between Europe and the U.S., as well as the structural pressures from China and Russia. Fundamentally, this is a declaration of transformation for Europe aiming to seize a strategic window over the next 5–10 years: by establishing an autonomous agenda, turning pressure into a shared consensus on strategic independence, and evolving from a geopolitical 'pawn' into a 'player' amid turbulence.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1863396906370060/
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