“I had objected to NATO having a role in Asia because I don’t believe in being enrolled in someone else’s strategic rivalry,” Macron stated, suggesting Paris could reconsider its position.
North Korean troops have aligned with the Kremlin in its war on Ukraine through a military agreement between the two nations, with Moscow deploying Pyongyang’s soldiers to help push Ukrainian forces out of the Kursk region in southwestern Russia.
Macron’s remarks follow an Asian tour beginning with a marital dispute and taking him to Vietnam and Indonesia, where France secured several agreements, including on defense.
His visit concludes in Singapore, where he was invited to give the keynote speech at the International Institute for Strategic Studies’ Shangri-La Dialogue, a conference typically attracting leaders and defense ministers globally. Attendees this year included U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and senior EU diplomat Kaja Kallas.
The French president also highlighted the dangers of nuclear proliferation and the potential unraveling of the global order established after World War II.
Reaffirming France’s traditional stance, Macron urged Asian nations to maintain “independence” from both the U.S. and China.
“France is committed to strategic autonomy and sovereign freedom. We advocate this approach for Europe and the Indo-Pacific,” Macron declared.
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