Page Loader
Trump criticizes Macron over European defense remarks, again

Trump criticizes Macron over European defense remarks, again

Nov 14, 2018
01:49 pm

What's the story

Donald Trump yesterday launched another attack against Emmanuel Macron over the French President's call for a European army, a proposal the US leader earlier had dubbed "insulting." "Emmanuel Macron suggests building its own army to protect Europe against the US, China, and Russia. But it was Germany in World Wars One & Two - How did that work out for France?" Trump tweeted.

Twitter Post

US President's another highly critical tweet attacking Macron

Attack

Trump lambasted European allies for not spending enough on militaries

Macron had angered Trump by saying Europe needed its own army and listing the US along with Russia, China as a threat to European security. Trump, who is in France to attend World War I commemorations this weekend, tweeted Macron's call for a "real European army" was "insulting." He has also repeatedly lambasted European allies for not spending enough on their militaries, particularly Germany.

Response

Trump, I agreed for better burden-sharing within NATO: Macron

Meanwhile, the 40-year-old French President, after talks with Trump, said in an interview recorded on Saturday, that the two leaders had spoken about what his office has portrayed as a misunderstanding. Both the leaders agree there should be "better burden-sharing within NATO," which means that Europe should be less reliant on US spending for its defense, Macron said in the interview with CNN.

Support

Despite Trump's comments, US officials fully committed to NATO alliance

However, in the same interview Macron had added, "To be very direct with you, what I don't want to see is European countries increasing the budget in defense in order to buy American and other arms or materials coming from your industry." Meanwhile, the US officials have stressed that Washington is fully committed to the NATO alliance despite US President Donald Trump's comments.

Information

Meanwhile, NATO Chief welcomes stronger EU efforts on defense

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg meanwhile has welcomed stronger EU efforts on defense that could strengthen the alliance but warned against duplicating its work while potentially undermining transatlantic ties. In his NATO conference on Monday, he praised how the US and Europe overcame two world wars.