In yet another indication of the growing rift between the US and France, Emmanuel Macron, France’s exceedingly unpopular lame-duck president and arguably Europe’s most prominent globalist head of state, has urged EU countries to halt their purchase of American-made weapons and defense equipment in favor of European alternatives.
Macron’s statement came a day before left-globalist French MEP Raphaël Glucksmann launched an unhinged attack on the US, demanding that it return the Statue of Liberty and arguing that the country has failed to appreciate the monument or its significance.
A longtime advocate of direct defense spending toward products made in the European Union, Macron, during an interview over the weekend with several legacy French publications, including Le Parisien, expressed his desire to persuade EU member states who’ve become accustomed to buying US military hardware to switch to continental options.
“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,” Macron said.
Politico Europe reported:
Macron’s comments come as European NATO members have become even more dependent on U.S. weapons than ever before.
This month, the Netherlands and Belgium confirmed they would still buy American-made F-35 fighter jets, while Portugal is wobbling about replacing its U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets with more modern F-35s because of “the recent position of the United States, in the context of NATO.”
Macron said he has asked French defense companies to cut red tape and reduce costs to become a more attractive option, Nice-Matin reported.
Also during the interview, Macron explained what a possible deployment of European troops to support Ukraine might look like. The goal, he said, is to “deploy a few thousand troops per nation, at key points, to carry out training programs,” and “show our support over the long term.”
The French president also referred to the conditions for a ceasefire set forth by Russian President Vladimir Putin as “unacceptable.”
“This would mean a partial invasion of Ukraine and a freeze on the conflict, without offering any security or guarantees for the future,” he said.
Macron’s remarks come at a time when relations between the globalist-led EU, especially France, and Trump’s America are rapidly deteriorating. Recently, several social media groups have surfaced, calling for a boycott of American-made products.
A Facebook group called “Boycott USA: Buy French and European!” was created in late February and has since garnered over 20,000 followers. Members share tips and strategies for replacing popular U.S. brands with European alternatives.
Elsewhere in Europe, namely in the northern countries, boycott campaigns appear to be gaining momentum. In Sweden, two Facebook groups have amassed nearly 80,000 members each, while a similar Danish group has also reached that milestone, with smaller factions emerging in the Netherlands and Belgium. These groups are actively sharing detailed lists of American brands to steer clear of.
One of the most significant effects of these European-led boycotts has been felt by Tesla, the electric vehicle and energy giant owned by Elon Musk, a close ally of President Trump. The company has experienced a 50% drop in sales across Europe compared to last year.
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