the essential
Emmanuel Macron brought together in Paris the ambassadors who represent France abroad, this Monday, January 6, 2025, and made several announcements and comments on international news.
It’s a tradition for Emmanuel Macron. Every year, at the start of the year, he brings together the French ambassadors in Paris to present the broad outlines of his foreign policy, comment on international news and make diplomatic announcements. The ambassadors were gathered at the Elysée this Monday, January 6 at the end of the morning. What to remember from the Head of State’s announcements?
War in Ukraine
Emmanuel Macron believes that “the Ukrainians have to lead realistic discussions on territorial issues” because “only they can lead them”, to find a settlement to the conflict. “The United States of America will have to help us change the nature of the situation and convince Russia to come to the negotiating table,” while the Europeans will have to “build security guarantees” for Ukraine. While the war in Ukraine has lasted for almost 3 years, Emmanuel Macron declares that we must “go much faster and much stronger” in terms of European defense. “The question is whether Europeans want, for the next 20 years, to produce what will be necessary for their security or not”, because “if we depend on the American industrial and technological defense base, then we will have cruel dilemmas and culpable strategic dependencies.
? “There will be no quick and easy solution in Ukraine”
Emmanuel Macron warns that no solution including a “capitulation of Ukraine can be good for Europeans and Americans” pic.twitter.com/CA3QENYbeR
— BFMTV (@BFMTV) https://twitter.com/BFMTV/status/1876233412819742740?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Donald Trump
For Emmanuel Macron, Donald Trump “knows that he has a solid ally in France, an ally whom he does not disesteem”, “who believes in Europe” and has a “lucid ambition” for the transatlantic relationship. The president recalled: “From 2016 to 2020, France knew how to work with President Trump.” For his future mandate which begins on January 20, Emmanuel Macron assures us: “If we decide to be weak and defeatist, there is little chance of being respected by the United States of America of President Trump.” “It’s up to us to know how to cooperate with the choice that was made by the American people.”
? “President Trump has a solid ally in France, an ally whom he does not disesteem, who has clear wishes, who believes in Europe” and who has “lucid ambition”, affirms Emmanuel Macron pic.twitter.com/gQsFZn31pk
— BFMTV (@BFMTV) https://twitter.com/BFMTV/status/1876227694158856451?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Elon Musk
Emmanuel Macron accuses Elon Musk – CEO of Tesla, SpaceX or the social network Without naming Elon Musk, the head of state said: “Ten years ago, if we had been told that the owner of one of the largest social networks in the world would support a new reactionary international and intervene directly in the elections, understood in Germany? Who would have imagined it? An allusion to Elon Musk’s continued support for Germany’s far-right party, AfD.
?Elon Musk supports “a new reactionary international”
Emmanuel Macron denounces “unacceptable interference” by “destabilizing powers” before ambassadors pic.twitter.com/KDwZFyij6c
— BFMTV (@BFMTV) https://twitter.com/BFMTV/status/1876225215333630377?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Mercosur
On Mercosur – that is to say the controversial trade agreement signed between the European Union and South American countries – Emmanuel Macron assures “the mass is not said”: “The mass is not said […] We will continue to vigorously defend the coherence of our commitments,” he insisted in front of the French ambassadors gathered at the Elysée.
Mercosur: “the mass is not said”, assures Emmanuel Macron pic.twitter.com/bl3lOupna9
— BFMTV (@BFMTV) https://twitter.com/BFMTV/status/1876237089580196078?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Syria
The head of state calls for “looking without naivety at the change of regime in Syria”, and promises not to abandon the Kurdish fighters allied with the West in the fight against terrorism. France will support “over the long term” the transition in favor of “a sovereign Syria, free and respectful of its ethnic, political and confessional plurality”.
Iran
Emmanuel Macron believes that Iran constitutes the “main strategic and security challenge” in the Middle East, and will be a priority issue in the dialogue he will initiate with the new American administration of Donald Trump. “Iran is the main strategic and security challenge for France, the Europeans, the entire region and well beyond.” He adds: “The acceleration of its nuclear program brings us very close to the breaking point.” He also denounced Tehran’s involvement “in Russia’s war against Ukraine”, its “support for dangerous groups in all areas of confrontation in the Middle East” and even “its attempts to deploy in Africa” . “In this context, the Iranian question is undoubtedly one of the main ones on which we will re-engage in dialogue with the new American administration,” he concluded.
Intervention in Africa
France was “right” to intervene militarily in Africa “against terrorism since 2013”, but African leaders “forgot to say thank you”, declared the President, estimating that “none of them would be today ‘today with a sovereign country if the French army had not been deployed.’ “It doesn’t matter, it will come with time,” he quipped during the meeting before adding: “No, France is not in retreat in Africa, it is simply lucid, it is reorganize.”
