French President Emmanuel Macron warned China that NATO could become more deeply involved in Asia if Beijing does not do more to stop North Korea from taking part in Russia’s war on Ukraine.
“North Korea in Ukraine is a big question for all of us.
If China doesn’t want NATO to be involved in Southeast Asia, it should prevent [North Korea] from being engaged on European soil,” Macron said Friday during an address at a major defense summit in Singapore.
The French president also warned against the risk of nuclear proliferation and the potential collapse of the global order established after World War II.
Doubling down on France’s traditional mantra, the French president called on Asian nations to be “independent” from both the U.S. and China.
Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, warned China that if Beijing does not take more action to prevent North Korea from joining Russia’s war on Ukraine, NATO may expand its presence in Asia.
“We all have serious concerns about North Korea’s involvement in Ukraine. Macron said Friday at a major defense summit in Singapore that if China doesn’t want NATO to be involved in Southeast Asia, it should stop [North Korea] from being involved on European soil.
France spearheaded the effort to stop the establishment of a NATO liaison office in Japan in 2023 because it has long held the view that the transatlantic military alliance shouldn’t extend its influence into Asia.
In an apparent attempt to change its position, Macron stated, “I had objected to NATO having a role in Asia because I don’t believe in being enrolled in someone else’s strategic rivalry.”.
Under a military pact between the two nations, North Korean troops have backed the Kremlin’s war on Ukraine, with Moscow attempting to drive Ukrainian forces out of the Kursk region of southwest Russia with the help of Pyongyang’s soldiers.
Following an Asian tour that began with a marital argument and included stops in Vietnam and Indonesia, where France inked a number of agreements, including defense-related ones, Macron’s speech follows.
He was asked to give the keynote address at the International Institute for Strategic Studies’ Shangri-La Dialogue, which usually attracts world leaders and defense ministers, in Singapore, where his trip is coming to an end. Those present this year included U. S. Leading EU diplomat Kaja Kallas and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Additionally, the French president issued a warning about the dangers of nuclear proliferation and the possible breakdown of the post-World War II global order.
The president of France doubled down on the country’s old motto, urging Asian countries to be “independent” from both the U.S. S. . in addition to China.
“Freedom of sovereignty and strategic autonomy are important to France. Macron declared, “We support this strategy for Europe and the Indo-Pacific.
