Macron: EU Must Invest ‘Hundreds of Billions’ in Defense as US Shifts Focus

French President Emmanuel Macron has long advocated for greater European strategic autonomy, reduced reliance on the United States, and increased investment in the continent’s own defense industry. On Sunday, he reiterated that this shift is now more crucial than ever as the U.S. continues to shift its focus away from Europe.

“It’s almost midnight,” Macron warned. “With uncertainty surrounding long-term American support for Europe, we must urgently mobilize hundreds of billions of euros. This is Europe’s strategic wake-up call,” he told the French newspaper Le Parisien.

As the U.S. adopts a more conciliatory stance toward Russia and signals its intention to scale back involvement in Europe, many EU nations—including those traditionally aligned with Washington—are reevaluating their military alliances. Concern is growing over NATO’s future, prompting European leaders to seek alternative security arrangements.

Germany’s likely next chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has declared strengthening Europe his “absolute priority,” emphasizing the need to swiftly achieve independence from the United States.

On Sunday, European and Canadian leaders gathered in London to discuss the situation in Ukraine. Amid growing tensions between Washington and Kyiv, countries such as France, the U.K., and Italy have expressed readiness to mediate in the strained relationship between the U.S. and Ukraine.

Later this week, on Thursday, discussions on enhancing European defense will intensify. Leaders are expected to explore a new defense financing mechanism, along with initiatives such as easing fiscal restrictions and encouraging financial institutions to invest in defense projects.