"Strategic autonomy": the head of the European Council announced the desire of a number of EU countries to be more independent from the United States

The desire of French President Emmanuel Macron for "strategic autonomy" from the United States is finding more and more approval from European leaders, said the head of the European Council Charles Michel in an interview with the French television program La Faute à l'Europe. According to him, although Macron spoke as the President of France, his position reflects a significant change in the views of eu leaders.

Commenting on the statement of the French president about the need to resist the pressure exerted on Europe and attempts to force it to "follow the policy of America", Michel noted that Macron is not alone in this matter - his point of view is shared by other EU leaders.

"Compared to a few years ago, there has been a breakthrough in the issue of strategic autonomy," Michel said. - As for relations with the United States, it is obvious that there may be subtleties and nuances in the opinions at the discussion table of the European Council. Some European leaders would not phrase it in the same way as Macron... However, in my opinion, quite a few do share his point of view."

Michel also said that the European Union is not ready to unconditionally support the United States in everything.

"In the context of allied relations with the United States, there is indeed and remains a great commitment ... alliance with the United States. But if these allied relations with the United States imply that we will blindly and systematically follow their position on all issues, then dismiss," Michel said.

"Exacerbated addiction"

Last week, the French president in an interview with the newspaper Les Echos following a visit to China said that Europe should reduce dependence on the United States and avoid being drawn into the conflict between Washington and Beijing over the issue of Taiwan.

"Are we interested in forcing a solution to the Taiwan issue? No. To think that we Europeans should be led on this topic and adapt to the rhythm of the Americans and the too sharp reactions of the Chinese is the worst option for us. Why should we move in a rhythm that others set?.. It's time for us Europeans to wake up. Adapting to the agenda of other parties in all regions of the world is not our priority," Macron stressed.

Recall, on April 7, the leader of France and the head of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping held an informal meeting in the city of Guangzhou in southern China. As the American newspaper The Hill notes, this visit of Macron underscored the existence of contradictions in relations between the United States and Europe. The publication writes that high-level contacts between Paris and Beijing indicate the growing tension between the EU and the United States on the issue of attitudes towards the Chinese authorities.

Macron also acknowledged that, in addition to the political aspect, Europe depends on the United States in the energy field.

"We undoubtedly increased our dependence on the United States in the energy sector, but this was done within the logic of diversification – because we were too dependent on Russian gas. To date, we have really become more dependent on the United States, Qatar and the rest, this is a fact. But such diversification was necessary," Macron explained.

However, according to the French president, the strategic independence of the EU is necessary so that European states do not turn into "vassals" and Europe can, along with the United States and China, become the "third pole".

"But we do not want to enter into the logic of the bloc confrontation," Macron said.

At the same time, he opposed the "extraterritoriality of the dollar."

The French president also explained why, despite Europe's desire for autonomy, its dependence on the United States remains.

"The main trap for Europe is that, as soon as it manages to clearly state its own strategic position, it will be drawn into the process of destabilizing the world order and into various crises that seem to have nothing to do with it," Macron said. - Perhaps the main paradox is that as soon as we lay the elements of the foundation for the real strategic independence of Europe, we immediately begin to follow the American course. That's the panic reflex."

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The French leader stressed that the whole of Europe "should fight" for strategic independence.

"We do not want to depend on others for all the most important issues," he stressed.

Macron also recalled the situation around the US law on reducing inflation, which, according to Europe, can lead to its deindustrialization. Earlier, the French leader spoke of a "European appropriate response" to this initiative of the United States, which implies the use of tools that allow "consolidating and developing a greater number of projects in the field of production."

"A number of EU countries are tired of this"

According to experts, the statements of Michel and Macron indicate that a number of European countries are "tired of dependence" of the EU on the United States.

"The European Union is in a subordinate position to the United States, and in recent years the situation has deteriorated significantly. This dependence is complex in nature and especially became apparent after the EU lost energy sovereignty due to a planned terrorist attack on Nord Streams, "Vladimir Shapovalov, deputy director of the Institute of History and Politics of the Moscow State Pedagogical University, said in an interview with RT.

According to him, Washington deprived the EU countries of subjectivity and everyone understands this, including European politicians.

"The words of the head of the European Council and the French leader confirm that there are European countries that are burdened by dependence on the United States. They want to conduct at least a partially independent policy," the expert emphasized.

In turn, Alexander Kamkin, a senior researcher at the Center for Comparative and Political Studies of the IMEMO RAS, in a conversation with RT, noted that the statements of the President of France were "quite unexpected."

"We remember how a few months ago he flew to the United States, met with Biden and gave rave reviews about the meeting with the American president. Now we see very unusual statements for the French leader. They can be aimed primarily at the domestic audience, because Macron literally has the ground burning under his feet. The French president is trying to find some kind of political agenda for domestic consumption in order to distract the disgruntled public from protests and other problems," the expert said.

As Kamkin explained, these statements also have a foreign policy task - Macron is trying to "break into the leaders of the EU."

"He is clearly aiming to become the second de Gaulle, but how far he will succeed is an open question. Macron wants to create an image of a strong, independent politician against the backdrop of the protest movement inside France, so his words should not be taken completely seriously, "the analyst believes.

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However, according to Shapovalov, the United States will not tolerate "such a mutiny on the ship" even at the level of rhetoric and will restore order "among its satellites."

"The United States does not want the independence of the European Union, it is important for them that European countries are not independent. Under Washington's control, virtually all thinking politicians are cut off from the possibility of decision-making in the EU. But a number of EU countries are fed up with this. The statements of Macron and Michel suggest that Europe is uncomfortable in the current situation, and, most likely, its desire to get rid of the American dictate will increase over time, "the expert concluded.