French President Emmanuel Macron has warned that the U.S. is “gradually turning away” from some of its allies and “breaking free from international rules”.
Speaking during his annual address to French ambassadors at the Elysee presidential palace in Paris on Thursday (8 January), Macron said the international order was becoming increasingly fragile. His remarks came amid growing unease in Europe over a series of recent U.S. actions, including the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and renewed statements from Washington regarding Greenland.
“The U.S. is an established power,” Macron said, “but one that is gradually turning away from some of its allies and breaking free from international rules that it was still promoting recently.
“We are living in a world of great powers, with a real temptation to divide up the world,” he told France’s diplomatic corps at the Élysée Palace.
The speech was delivered as European governments have been left trying to develop a coordinated response to developments in Venezuela, where the U.S. operation to detain Maduro has drawn criticism from several countries.
Some European leaders have questioned the legality of the move and warned it could further undermine the principle of national sovereignty.
Macron also referred indirectly to President Donald Trump’s renewed interest in Greenland, a strategically important Arctic territory that is part of Denmark. Trump’s comments have been firmly rejected by Danish officials, who insist that Greenland’s future can only be decided by its own population.
Although Macron did not mention President Trump by name, the speech reflected broader European concern about what many see as a shift in U.S. foreign policy away from cooperation and towards unilateral action.
He said France “rejects the new colonialism and new imperialism – but also vassalage and defeatism.”
Macron has repeatedly called for greater “strategic autonomy” for Europe, particularly in defence and foreign policy, arguing that the continent should not be overly dependent on Washington.
While stressing the importance of continued cooperation with the U.S., Macron made clear that alliances could no longer be taken for granted.
“We are entering a new era,” he said, one in which Europe must be prepared to act to defend both its values and the international rules that have underpinned global stability for decades.
Storm Goretti has brought gale-force winds, heavy snow and freezing temperatures to parts of northern Europe, causing widespread power outages, flight...
Foreign Minister of Türkiye, Hakan Fidan, stresses importance of public order in Syria, deepening Türkiye-Indonesia cooperation, discusses Gaza and ...
Minnesota officials have launched their own investigation into the fatal shooting of a woman by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) offic...
The foreign ministries of Armenia and Iran held political consultations in Yerevan, according to official statements....
X has restricted Grok’s image editing tools to paying users after a backlash over AI-generated sexualised images, but UK and EU authorities say the ...
Syrian President Ahmad al‑Sharaa held separate telephone discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Friday (9 January), focusing on Syria’s internal security situation, reconstruction efforts and broader regional developments.
European countries and the United States presented a united front in support of Ukraine, unveiling security guarantees backed by Washington and a detailed plan for long-term assistance contingent on a ceasefire with Russia.
Leaders from the U.S. and European countries moved closer to finalising legally binding security guarantees for Ukraine following a “Coalition of the Willing” meeting in Paris on Sunday.
Doctors in community practices and private clinics across France began a nationwide 10-day strike on Monday over the government’s proposed 2026 Social Security budget, while staff at the Louvre Museum separately voted to resume strike action over working conditions.
Snow and ice stalled travellers in northwest Europe on Wednesday, forcing around a thousand to spend the night in Amsterdam's Schiphol airport but delighting others who set out to explore a snow-blanketed Paris on sledges and skis.
U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that Iran could face a strong response from the United States if its authorities kill protesters amid ongoing unrest.
Iran is now facing a near‑total internet blackout as anti-government protests sweep the country. Major cities including Tehran have seen connectivity drop sharply, leaving millions of residents isolated from online communication.
New York City parents could soon have access to free childcare for two-year-old children following a joint announcement made by Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Governor Kathy Hochul on Thursday (8 January).
Tens of thousands of Iranians have taken to the streets in Tehran and across at least 28 cities in a wave of anti-government demonstrations, now entering their twelfth day.
The United Nations has described footage of the fatal ICE shooting in Minneapolis as deeply disturbing, urging a thorough investigation and reaffirming the right to peaceful protest.
Italy aims to begin testing a delayed cable car project in January as it seeks to ease transport pressure at the Milan–Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, despite the challenges of construction in mountainous terrain.
Storm Goretti has brought gale-force winds, heavy snow and freezing temperatures to parts of northern Europe, causing widespread power outages, flight cancellations and major transport disruption.
Minnesota officials have launched their own investigation into the fatal shooting of a woman by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer, as protests spread across several U.S. cities and tensions grow between state and federal authorities.
X has restricted Grok’s image editing tools to paying users after a backlash over AI-generated sexualised images, but UK and EU authorities say the move does not address wider legal and safety concerns.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment