In front of the ambassadors gathered at the Elysée this Monday for the ceremony of wishes, Emmanuel Macron set his line in terms of international politics, evoking peace in Ukraine, supporting the transition of Syria… But he also tackled Elon Musk.
He presented his wishes for the year 2025, set a course, settled some scores, and warned. Faced with ambassadors gathered this Monday at the Elysée, Emmanuel Macron shared his foreign policy priorities for the next 365 days. Relations with the United States, fight against terrorism, Ukraine, Syria, everything to remember from the speech of the Head of State.
An attack against Elon Musk, accused of supporting “a new reactionary international”
If he addressed Happy New Year and thanked the ambassadors for their actions, the president's speech immediately took a political turn. With an attack, without mentioning him by name, against Elon Musk, billionaire owner of X, Tesla and SpaceX.
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“Ten years ago, what if we had been told that the owner of one of the largest social networks in the world would support a new reactionary international movement and intervene directly in elections, including in Germany? Who would have imagined it? », Launched Emmanuel Macron, directly referring to the continued support of the close friend of Donald Trump for the German far-right party, AfD.
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A hand extended to Donald Trump, two weeks before the inauguration
And the reunion with the latter – Donald Trump – dates back almost a month ago, but Emmanuel Macron has – already, after the dig for Musk – wanted to reassure the 47th President of the United States.
“He knows that he has a solid ally in France, an ally that he does not despise, an ally who believes in Europe” and has a “lucid ambition” for the transatlantic relationship, he warned, two weeks before the inauguration of the new head of state in Washington, praising their understanding during his first term, while being cautious.
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“From 2016 to 2020, France knew how to work with President Trump. 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 is up to us to know how to cooperate with the choice that was made by the American people. he added.
Ukrainians must hold “realistic” discussions on territorial issues
While Russia has invaded Ukraine for almost three years, the tenant of the Elysée has outlined several wishes for 2025. “The Ukrainians have to lead realistic discussions on territorial questions and only they can lead them,” launched the president, at the very moment when Russia has taken possession of some 20% of Ukraine and is increasing its conquests. According to Emmanuel Macron, there will be “no quick and easy solution in Ukraine”.
On the other hand, Europeans will have to “build security guarantees” for Ukraine, he said. Before reintroducing the United States into his remarks. “They have to help us change the nature of the situation and convince Russia to come to the negotiating table. »
“The new American president himself knows that the United States has no chance of winning anything if Ukraine loses” and a “capitulation of Ukraine cannot be good for the Europeans and the Americans,” said the French president, estimating that the “credibility” of Westerners would be “undermined” if they agree to “compromise” due to “fatigue” of the conflict.
Conjectures have been rife for weeks about the conditions for future peace negotiations, due to the return to the White House on January 20 of Donald Trump, who promised to quickly put an end to the conflict. However, without specifying how. kyiv hopes for strong decisions from the American president, but also fears a drop in support, Donald Trump having repeatedly criticized the billions of dollars provided to the country.
The Kremlin, for its part, rejected the idea of a ceasefire. He demands that Ukraine lay down its arms, cede four regions partially occupied by the Russians, in addition to Crimea annexed in 2014, and renounce joining NATO. Unacceptable conditions for kyiv.
Accompany Syria, while remaining loyal to the Kurdish fighters
Three days after the visit of his Minister of Foreign Affairs to Syria Jean-Noël Barrot, Emmanuel Macron raised the case of the country after the fall of Bashar al-Assad in early December. The president called for “looking without naivety at the regime change in Syria. »
Before discussing France's support, “in the long term”, concerning the country's transition towards “a sovereign Syria, free and respectful of its ethnic, political and confessional plurality”. Then to put on the table a pure and hard commitment: to remain “loyal” to the “freedom fighters, like the Kurds” who have fought and are fighting terrorism, in particular the jihadist organization Islamic State.
Fight “relentlessly” against terrorism
While the sad anniversary of the ten years of the attack perpetrated against Charlie Hebdo journalists takes place tomorrow, Tuesday January 7, Emmanuel Macron called for the fight against terrorism to continue without “respite”.
“We know that terrorism is a risk which remains significant in our societies and which requires no relaxation and collective vigilance. There must be no respite in the fight against terrorism,” he insisted.
Europeans and strengthening their defense
At the European level, Emmanuel Macron indicated that countries must move “much faster and much stronger” to strengthen their defense industry in the face of rising threats.
“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,” he insisted.
For Mercosur, “mass is not said”
To conclude, the French president assured, in a context of demonstrations by farmers throughout France this Monday, that the “mass is not said” concerning the conclusion of the controversial trade agreement between the European Union and the southern countries. -Americans from Mercosur.
We will continue to vigorously defend the coherence of our commitments
Emmanuel Macron
This Monday, numerous convoys of farmers mobilized with one objective: to go to Paris. Everyone is worried about the signing of this agreement. A project which is “unacceptable as it stands”, declared President Emmanuel Macron.
