Macron Calls on European Countries to Seek Greater Independence in Airspace Defense

French President Emmanuel Macron has called on European countries to strive for greater independence in airspace defense to avoid excessive dependence on the United States, writes Euronews.

In a speech at a conference in Paris, Macron advocated for developing a proprietary air defense strategy. “We need to know what the situation is concerning the threats. And then, what can we, Europeans, produce? And then, what do we need to buy?” Macron said. He also warned against the immediate purchase of “what is on the shelves.”

Discussions focused on combating drones and defense against ballistic missiles, said the French organizers of the conference, noting that Moscow's extensive invasion of Ukraine has demonstrated the significance and effectiveness of such technology. The agenda also included issues related to nuclear weapons deterrence.

The meeting was attended by diplomats from Germany, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania, as well as representatives from NATO and the EU.

Macron insisted that European defense manufacturers build independent military systems and shift production to the continent. He pointed out that the standardization by the U.S. has led to European dependence.

“The Americans have standardized much more than we have, and they themselves have federal agencies that provide huge subsidies to their manufacturers,” Macron noted. He also added that the Mamba missile defense system developed by France and Italy is “now deployed and operational in Ukraine, protecting critical infrastructure and saving lives.”