Macron wants to reduce reliance on US weapons

France's President Emmanuel Macron has used the return to the White House of United States President Donald Trump to call for increased European military expenditure on home-grown systems, rather than the continent being reliant on American imports.

In the run-up to his return to power, Trump spoke of the need for all members of the NATO military alliance, many of which are European countries, to significantly increase the proportion of their gross domestic product spent on the military, saying it was unfair that the US was contributing so much more.

France has a large armaments industry and has previously expressed frustration when European partners have opted to choose US alternatives, but Macron insisted buying European would be of mutual benefit.

"We can't raise debt together, spend more for our defense to subsidize the industry, wealth and jobs of other continents," he told a meeting of military high command. "When we say 'let's spend more for our armies', in many countries it means, way too often, 'buy more American material'."

Macron called for a more streamlined European defense sector, contrasting the six industrial platforms serving the US navy with the 47 in Europe, and insisted that his plea was for wider European benefit, not just to promote French economic interests.

"We won't always be the European champions. But at least we'll be sure the European champions have a global reach," he added.

His comments come just after Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz also used the Trump inauguration to send a message about closer European cooperation.

In a weekend interview, Scholz praised the US for the vital role it had played in the reconstruction of Germany in the years after World War II, but also mentioned how "as a community of more than 400 million Europeans" the continent had economic muscle and could "build on our own strength".

Trump has suggested that NATO members should spend 5 percent of their GDP on the military, which is way above the current target of 2 percent, and more than anyone currently pays.

According to figures published by NATO in 2024, of the 32 member states, Poland is the biggest spender, with 4.1 percent, then Estonia and the US, each with 3.4 percent.

France is currently at 2 percent, but Macron said that at a time "when the world is going off track", this may not be enough, and that there was no room for complacency.

Trump has long promised to bring a swift end to the conflict in Ukraine, but Macron said that even if this were to happen, Russia would remain a significant security concern.

"Let's not fool ourselves, this conflict will not be resolved tomorrow. Or the day after tomorrow," he said, adding that for there to be peace in Europe, there would need to be European representation at any negotiating table.