Macron suggests that EU must ditch US weapons manufacturers

2025-03-18 04:07:09

(MENAFN) French President Emmanuel Macron has urged European nations to stop relying on American-made weapons and instead invest in the EU’s own defense industry. In an interview published on Saturday, Macron argued that strengthening Europe's military-industrial complex would make the bloc’s rearmament efforts more effective.

His remarks come after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed a massive €800 billion ($875 billion) military funding plan, known as ‘ReArm,’ aimed at countering what Brussels calls a growing “threat” from Russia—an assertion Moscow has dismissed.

Macron revealed that he recently met with French defense manufacturers to encourage them to offer European alternatives to US military equipment. “Those who buy [US] Patriots, we must offer them the new-generation Franco-Italian SAMP/T. Those who buy the F-35s, we must offer them the Rafale,” he stated, referring to American missile defense systems and fighter jets versus their European counterparts.

To make EU-made weapons more competitive, Macron acknowledged that European defense firms must lower costs, streamline production, and simplify bureaucratic processes. He also linked the issue to broader economic tensions with Washington, citing US President Donald Trump’s recent threats to impose tariffs on European goods.

“Faced with unpredictable powers, we must reduce our dependency. That means accelerating our sovereignty policy by strengthening our own production and strategic culture to become more independent in defense and technology,” he said, adding that he plans to discuss these ideas with incoming German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

According to a recent report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Western Europe’s arms imports have more than doubled over the past five years, with two-thirds coming from the US. While Europe has made efforts to bolster its defense industry, American suppliers still dominate the market.

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