Germany's Foreign Minister criticizes French President Macron for not meeting his own calls for increased military spending in pursuit of European strategic autonomy.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has expressed strong criticism of French President Emmanuel Macron for failing to fulfill his advocacy for European 'strategic autonomy' in defense spending. Wadephul emphasized that although Macron has effectively called for a unified European defense approach since introducing the idea of a continental 'army' in 2018, he has not backed this rhetoric with substantial increases in military expenditure. This divergence is particularly concerning to German officials who see Macron’s inaction as undermining the urgency for enhanced European defense capabilities.
Wadephul's comments were made during a recent interview on German public radio, where he argued that Macron’s statements on European sovereignty must translate into action. He highlighted the inconsistency of Macron's advocacy for greater European autonomy in defense while France’s military budget remains inadequate for such aspirations. The German Foreign Minister urges France to prioritize defense spending, indicating that the reliance on social spending rather than military investment might compromise the security objectives outlined by European leaders.
As European nations grapple with defense strategies amidst perceived threats, particularly from Russia, Wadephul’s remarks reflect a growing impatience within Germany regarding France’s commitment to shared defense spending. This call to action comes at a time when NATO has emphasized the need for its European members to bolster their military capabilities, and the pressure is mounting on France to align its military budget with collective European security goals.
