By RFIPalled on 28-11-2019Modified on 28-11-2019 at 18:08

Emmanuel Macron received NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the Elysee Palace on Thursday, while the transatlantic organization will celebrate its 70th anniversary next week in London.

The common enemy of NATO members is not for Emmanuel Macron,
neither China nor Russia, but terrorism. An enemy facing which, he judges, France is in the front line.

Emmanuel Macron intends to take advantage of the upcoming NATO summit in London to ask his allies " greater involvement " against " terrorism " in the Sahel. France, which deploys 4,500 men, " acts on behalf of all, " he said, while 13 French soldiers have recently died in the collision of two helicopters in Mali.

The President of the Republic said he was ready to review " all the strategic options " of France in the Sahel and that in this context, " greater involvement of allies would be quite beneficial ". " To proclaim one's commitment to collective security is not enough. A true alliance, they are acts, not words, "he added. For Paris, this appeal is aimed primarily at other European countries, some of which are already involved, such as Germany and Denmark, and does not go through the launch of a NATO operation.

Macron wants "greater involvement of allies in the Sahel"

28-11-2019 - By Anissa El Jabri

Flatten divergences

A week before the summit of the Atlantic Alliance in London, Emmanuel Macron received on Thursday the Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg at the Elysee. The opportunity to iron out the differences after the turmoil caused by the recent remarks of the French president on the " brain death " of the organization.

Asked about his remarks, the Head of State explained having kept them after having noted " a glaring and unacceptable disconnection " at the last two summits of NATO, which " were only devoted to knowing how to lighten the cost for the United States ", by far the largest contributor to the Alliance.

Meanwhile, were not " resolved " strategic questions about " peace in Europe, the relationship with Russia, the subject of Turkey " or " who is the enemy? Of NATO, regrets Emmanuel Macron, citing the fight against terrorism as a new priority for the allies. " Maybe it needed a wake-up call. It was given and I am pleased that the priority is rather to reflect on our goals and our strategic objectives , "he added to the press.

In response, Jens Stoltenberg assured that NATO had modernized its doctrine and its mode of operation, while strengthening its means of action, particularly in eastern Europe. The Secretary General of NATO camps on his positions. " The European Union can not defend Europe. European unity can not replace the transatlantic unit. A strong NATO and a strong European Union are two sides of the same coin, "said Jens Stoltenberg.

A true alliance, they are acts, not words. At D-5 of the NATO Summit, we work with @JensStoltenberg to rethink what this alliance means, its goals and means of action. Our ambition is intact: to ensure the peace and stability of Europe. pic.twitter.com/GHdNeTwQcM

Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) November 28, 2019

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