“Let's not think that the US will return to Europe after Trump. It's over.” The warning of a former president of France
The European Union needs to learn to live “alone” and stop relying on the United States, including after the departure of Donald Trump, former French President François Hollande said on Saturday, advocating for the rapid construction of a Europe of Defense, in a more limited format, reports AFP, taken over by News.ro.
“We will have to live alone, Europe alone. It is very difficult for the Germans and the British to imagine a Western world without the United States”, declared the former socialist head of state at a conference in Liffré, in Ille-et-Vilaine.
He made these statements at the Printemps du Souffle Breton, an event organized by the political movement of the president of the Bretagne region, Loïg Chesnais-Girard.
“A world where we will no longer be with the US”
“But let's not think that when Donald Trump is no longer president, the United States will return to Europe, as before. It's over,” continued the former president of France.
“Politicians, but also citizens, must think of a world in which we will no longer be with the United States. And even if a democratic president, which would be desirable, comes” after that to power, “he will no longer be complacent or solidary,” warned Emmanuel Macron's predecessor, who does not hide his ambitions in the 2027 presidential elections.
François Hollande pleaded in favor of “unity” and appreciated that Europe in 27 works to “deal with economic, monetary and budgetary problems”.
Europe with two speeds, in a new form
He appreciated that it will not be possible to amend the European treaties in time to act in time, considering the international context.
“We must agree on an architecture in which we keep, of course, the Europe of 27, but in which we have a Europe of Six or Eight”, which depends on the will of these few states to develop “the industries of the future, digital and artificial intelligence”, as well as defense, Hollande pleaded.
As for the defense, “we will have to do it with those who are the most convinced”, declared the former French president. He cited the frontline states in the context of the Ukraine War, such as the Scandinavian and Baltic countries and those with the most important industrial capacities, such as Germany and Italy.
