"Buy European weapons!" - Macron urges EU not to invest in American equipment
French President Emmanuel Macron wants to convince EU countries to stop buying US defense equipment and instead buy French and European weapons.
Macron, who has called for years to shift defense spending toward EU products, said the bloc's countries should invest in local options. "My goal is to go and convince European countries that are used to buying American products," he told French media.
"Those who buy the Patriot should be offered the Franco-Italian SAMP/T version of the new generation. Those who buy the F-35 should get the Rafale. This is the way to increase the production rate," Macron stressed.
His comments come as European NATO members have become even more dependent on US weapons than before.
This month, the Netherlands and Belgium confirmed they would buy American F-35 fighter jets, while Portugal is trying to replace its US-made F-16 fighter jets with more modern F-35s due to the "recent position of the United States, in the context of NATO."
Macron said he has asked French defense companies to cut red tape and lower costs to become a more attractive option.
The French president also explained what a possible deployment of European troops to help Ukraine might look like. The aim is to "deploy several thousand men per country, in key points, to carry out training programs" and "show our support in the long term," he added.
Macron underlined that the conditions set by Russian President Vladimir Putin for a ceasefire in Ukraine "are unacceptable".
According to the French president, "this would mean a partial occupation of Ukraine and a freezing of the conflict, without offering any security or guarantees for the future."
Macron announced for the "coming weeks" a reform of the Universal National Service, which is a voluntary service for people aged 15 to 17. It includes sports activities, civic education and a stay in a state or non-governmental organization, "to meet the needs of the nation and the priorities that we have identified."
The French leader, however, ruled out a return to compulsory military service.
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