Bundestag threatens Macron with "high price" for his attempt to divide Europe, US

French President Emmanuel Macron will pay a "high price" for his statements on the need to reduce Europe's dependence on the US and the statement that the EU should not be drawn into a confrontation over Taiwan.

The warning was voiced by Michael Roth, head of the Bundestag's (German parliament) foreign policy committee, in an interview with Der Tagesspiegel.

"Macron will pay a high price for this. He threatens to divide Europe with these statements. And, of course, he is upsetting other international partners as well," he said.

In his view, Taiwan is "not a foreign problem" for Europe. "For example, think of Japan or Australia. These countries are thousands of kilometres away from Ukraine, but nevertheless stand firmly on the side of Ukraine ... they do so not out of mercy, but out of knowledge: if Russia wins, this could also be an example for China.

thus, Taiwan, as Macron suggests, is not on a foreign star, but has very much in common with us in Europe," he said.

Roth believes that with his words Macron is "hitting all of Central and Eastern Europe over the head" and "undermining the foundations of a united Europe". "Our neighbours in the East remain firmly convinced that their freedom and security cannot be guaranteed by Germany or France alone. At the moment, it is only the US," the politician stressed.

The Bundestag MP is also convinced that Macron is absolutely right when he says that Europe should take more responsibility for its own security.

"But if we were to suddenly turn our back on one of our most reliable partners, it would pose a security risk - not just for us in Germany, but for the entire EU," he said.

On April 9, French President Macron said that Europe should reduce its dependence on the United States and not get drawn into a confrontation between China and the United States over Taiwan.

He said the "biggest risk" Europe faces is that it will "get caught up in crises that are not its crises, which prevents it from building its strategic autonomy".