Macron wants Europeans to boost defense, be ‘respected’

By SYLVIE CORBET
Associated Press

PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron says European nations must boost their defense plans and make themselves “respected.” Speaking publicly for the first time on Tuesday about a Indo-Pacific defense deal among the U.S., Australia and Britain, Macron said Tuesday that “Europeans must come out of their naivety.” The deal sank a multi-billion French contract and led to a diplomatic crisis. As part of the pact, Australia will cancel a multibillion-dollar contract to buy diesel-electric French submarines and acquire U.S. nuclear-powered vessels instead. In an unprecedented move, France recalled its ambassador to the U.S. in response.