Necva Tastan Sevinc
08 July 2025•Update: 09 July 2025
ISTANBUL
French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday urged the UK and wider Europe to reduce their economic and technological dependencies on both the US and China, warning that such reliance poses long-term risks to sovereignty and strategic autonomy.
Speaking before both houses of the British Parliament during a state visit to London, Macron said: “If we still depend on both China and the US, I think we have a clear view of our future and the future of our children.”
“We want an open world. We want to cooperate, but not to depend,” he stressed.
He criticized what he called “overcapacities and other subsidies” from China while also pointing to the “trade war” initiated by the US, which he described as “an explicit decision not to be compliant anymore with the WTO.”
Urging Europe against excessive dependencies on both the US and China, Macron added: “Each time we depend, each time we are not able to stand up and decide and agree to disagree. This is the beginning of our problem.”
His remarks come ahead of a Franco-British summit in London on Thursday, where leaders are expected to unveil new defense, energy, and economic initiatives.
On foreign policy, Macron praised the UK’s early and steadfast support for Ukraine following Russia’s invasion.
"Since the first day, and even before the first day, you were part of the closest ally in training the army, being here the first day to protect President Zelenskyy, his government, and allowing the forces just to resist," he said.
"We were right, and we are right,” he added.
“Every time Vladimir Putin's Russia advances in Ukraine, the threat moves closer to us all. We will never accept the theory that might is right."
Unconditional ceasefire in Gaza
Macron also urged an unconditional ceasefire in Gaza, warning of growing instability in the Middle East.
"Calling today for a ceasefire in Gaza without any condition is just telling the rest of the world that for us as Europeans, there is no double standard,” he said.
The French president also reaffirmed support for a two-state solution.
It is the first address by a French president to the UK Parliament since 2008 and the first by an EU head of state since Brexit.
