Macron Pushes Back on U.S. Pressure, Calls for a More Assertive Europe
Europe pushes back against U.S. tariff threats as Macron calls for sovereignty, stability, and renewed multilateral cooperation.
French President Emmanuel Macron used his appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos on January 20 to deliver an unusually direct message about Europe’s place in a shifting global order. Responding to President Donald Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on European partners as part of a bid to pressure Denmark over Greenland, Macron said France and the broader European Union would not “accept a world governed by raw power,” warning that doing so would reduce nations to “vassals.”
Macron argued that even as global politics drifts toward what he described as a “rule‑free environment,” Europe must remain committed to territorial sovereignty, international law, and the principles of the UN Charter. He accused Washington of pushing Europe into one‑sided concessions and attempting to dilute European autonomy—criticisms that reflect growing transatlantic tensions but also long‑standing debates about burden‑sharing and strategic independence.
According to Macron, the United States’ approach—particularly the repeated use of tariffs as leverage—has become incompatible with the norms that underpin alliances. He stressed that Europe’s goal is not confrontation with the United States but the preservation of its own sovereignty and the strengthening of multilateral institutions.
The French leader also linked the Greenland episode to broader concerns about NATO’s cohesion, calling the alliance a “weakened institution” in need of honest reassessment. With France holding the rotating presidency of the G7 this year, Macron said he hopes to turn the summit into a venue for “open dialogue” and practical cooperation among major democracies.
Macron delivered his remarks wearing sunglasses, a detail the Élysée Palace later attributed to a minor burst blood vessel in his eye—an explanation that quickly put to rest speculation about his appearance.