French president stresses Europe’s need for power, ambition amid shifting US policy

French President Emmanuel Macron has called on Europe to resist “happy vassalization” to the US, stressing the importance of unity and strategic autonomy as transatlantic discussions on Ukraine continue to intensify.

Speaking in Lisbon on February 27 during his two-day state visit to Portugal, Macron urged Europeans to “rediscover the taste for risk, ambition, and power” in light of uncertainties over US policy, Caliber.Az reports citing French media.

"I see a lot of people in our Europe saying, 'we're going to have to be nice to the Americans, it'll pass, we have to bow down,'" Macron remarked during an event focused on innovation and artificial intelligence.

"But the answer is not in submission. I am not for happy vassalization," he added.

He highlighted the need for Europe to make “profound choices” in areas such as technology, industry, and defense to enhance its global influence.

Earlier in the day, while addressing the Portuguese parliament, Macron reinforced his message that Europeans must be “more united and strong than ever.”

Macron also touched upon Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to Washington happening on February 28 to sign an agreement to develop Ukrainian minerals, calling it a "very good development."

"I tried to explain the importance of Ukraine and its existential struggle for sovereignty and security for all Europeans," Macron said, referring to his own visit to Washington on February 24.

Macron’s trip to Portugal—the first official visit by a French head of state in over 25 years—is intended to strengthen bilateral relations, according to the Elysee Palace.

As part of the visit, the two nations are expected to sign a “treaty of friendship and cooperation,” along with agreements in various sectors, including science, cinema, and defense. Among these agreements is Portugal’s planned acquisition of up to 36 Caesar cannons by 2034.

By Nazrin Sadigova