Macron wants ‘real European army’ to combat Russian threat, not reliance on US

Published time: 6 Nov, 2018 13:18Edited time: 6 Nov, 2018 13:37

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FILE PHOTO Emmanuel Macron arrive to attend a military exercise at the military camp of Suippes, near Reims,

 France © Reuters

French President Emmanuel Macron is pushing for a “real European army” to better defend the continent against Russia. He also said Europe, which mainly depends on the US for security, won’t rely solely on its overseas ally.

In a lengthy interview to Europe 1 radio, the French president once again revived his ambitious plans for a combined EU military force. “We won’t protect Europeans if we don’t decide to have a real European army.” 

Russia… is near our borders and has shown it could be threatening.

Macron wants the EU military to be independent from its key partner on the other side of the Atlantic. “We must have a Europe that can defend itself on its own without relying only on the United States,” he said, echoing earlier statements. 

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In the interview, Macron also criticized US President Donald Trump for deciding to withdraw from the decades-old Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF). “When I see President Trump announcing that he’s quitting a major disarmament treaty which was formed after the 1980s euro-missile crisis that hit Europe, who is the main victim? Europe and its security.”