Macron sparks outrage by suggesting Europe take independent stance from U.S. on Taiwan
NBCNov 26, 2022
The Facts
On Tuesday, French Pres. Emmanuel Macron outlined his vision of greater "European sovereignty" in a keynote speech at the Nexus Institute in The Hague during a visit to the Netherlands.
Macron arrived in Amsterdam on Tuesday morning for a two-day visit at the invitation of King Willem-Alexander. The first official state visit by a French president to the Netherlands in 23 years reportedly will include various bilateral talks on sustainability and greater European independence.
The Spin
Establishment-critical narrative
While Macron's recent remarks are causing a stir, his call for more European "strategic autonomy" ultimately only reflects the position of a growing number of EU leaders with respect to Washington. The US remains the EU's most important ally, but a so-called partnership that is limited to complete submission to US positions is not in Europe's strategic interest and must therefore be rejected.
Pro-establishment narrative
Macron's renewed call for more "European sovereignty" also towards the US only shows his detachment from reality, as it certainly does not reflect sentiment across European leadership. However, even though his statements should certainly not be taken lightly in Washington, it's not the first time Macron tries to distinguish himself by calling for more European autonomy. The US-EU alliance will certainly get over it.
