French President Emmanuel Macron and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the European Union's push to bolster its own defensive capabilities is intended to complement NATO, not replace it. Macron stated that the EU's efforts answer a long-standing U.S. call for Europe to take charge of its own security. He emphasized that Europe must not act to weaken NATO but to strengthen the European pillar of the alliance. Mitsotakis added that the U.S. should be pleased that the EU is taking self-reliance seriously and investing more in defense, calling the American demand to spend more 'justified'.
Macron and Mitsotakis visited the frigate Kimon, part of a 3-billion-euro agreement that included the purchase of 24 Rafale fighter jets and four frigates. Both leaders hailed the France-Greece defense partnership as an example for other EU partners. Macron described the mutual assistance clause in the agreement as 'inviolable' and 'not up for debate,' warning that potential enemies should be clear about that. They also referred to Article 42.7, the EU's mutual defense clause, as not 'just empty words.' Greece has been overhauling its military capabilities, with much defense procurement from France.
The European Union’s ongoing push to bolster its own defensive capabilities isn’t intended to spawn an alternative to the NATO alliance but to answer a long-standing U.S. call for the continent to take charge of its own security.
Mitsotakis encouraged EU leaders to drop 'national egotism' and move forward with mergers for economies of scale in defense. Macron underscored the need for European industry to innovate and win back consumers, saying Europeans need to buy more European products and innovate more within Europe.
France and Greece dispatched warships to Cyprus in early March after a Shahed drone struck a British target, according to reports.
The lesson we must draw is, let us no longer be dependent.
In a separate development, Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni held a telephone conversation on Thursday, March 5, focusing on developments in the conflict in Iran and its impact on the Middle East and internationally, as well as free navigation. According to an Italian government statement, Meloni and Macron reiterated their joint commitment to support Gulf countries affected by Iran's unjustified attacks, to ensure the security of Cyprus, and to avoid military escalation in Lebanon.
We Europeans must strengthen this European pillar of NATO, we must strengthen this Europe of defense — not against anyone, not as an alternative to anything.
This mutual assurance and assistance clause is inviolable, and it is not up for debate between us.
So there are no question marks, no doubts to be entertained — and all our potential, or real, enemies need to be very clear about that.
All of us Europeans — the Franco-Greek relationship is a prime example — need to buy more European products, produce more European goods, and innovate more within Europe.
The U.S. should be pleased that the EU is taking its own self-reliance seriously and investing more in its own defense, calling the American demand to spend more 'justified'.
The prime minister Giorgia Meloni and President Macron reiterated their joint commitment to support the Gulf countries affected by Iran's unjustified attacks, and for the security of Cyprus, and to avoid military escalation in Lebanon.