For Lithuanians, Macron laid out his vision: America cannot be trusted alone

During the French president’s discussions with the VU students, the students covered a wide range of topics, from philosophy to the future of Europe, relations with its neighbors, and world powers such as China and the United States. Macron was ready and defended his vision last year to see Europe united, focused and independent from the rest of the world, but at the same time he had to acknowledge that unity was still lacking and that Europeans differed.

But, according to the French leader, it is important to come up with risky ideas and defend them, otherwise Europe will become even more dependent on others. But who defends European values, such as the right to self-determination a few tens of kilometers east of Vilnius, where such a right has been taken away from Belarusians and the regime that deprived it that Europe still cannot agree on how to react?

Criticism of the US action

When asked about the European defense budget, a controversial idea within the EU itself, and in particular about his thoughts on The Economist last year, Macron expanded on and assured him that he would not give up his views.

“I think what we’re going through right now is NATO brain death,” Macron said last year because “the United States and its NATO allies show no coordination of strategic decisions.” According to him, the interests of the European allies are alien to the United States. Under President Donald Trump, Islamic terrorism and Russia’s actions in Ukraine are viewed by the United States as a European problem because it takes place in the European neighborhood, far from American shores. All the United States is doing is a defense umbrella in exchange for a commitment to buy American goods.

At the time, Russia, according to Macron, does not have a long-term alternative to a “partnership project” with Europe, so Europeans must work with it to find out what problems can be addressed immediately (for example, the fight against terrorism) and which should start with peace. – Cyberwar). To make this possible, Macron is inclined to discuss what guarantees Russia needs to feel more secure.

At Vilnius University, E. Macron developed these ideas, but he has already reacted a little more favorably about NATO.

“We have to work together, NATO has taught us this. Even if I criticized NATO for its geopolitical shortcomings, it was NATO that taught us to work together. Now we should reinforce that synergy at the European level, which is the goal of the European initiative.

You may have felt like European countries left you when the Soviet Union annexed you and then only NATO provided you with security, but you can’t always trust the power that is beyond the Atlantic and focused more on China than on us. ” E. Macronas, who expressed the hope that in the near future the Lithuanian youth will consider Europe as a guarantor of security.

Another reason to look less at the United States, according to the French president, is the American approach to a strategic partnership with Europe. According to Macron, Europeans often become customers of American industry, and when it comes to European sovereignty, Europe must choose its partners but not depend on them.

“If we completely depend on the American team, we will not be able to act independently. Therefore, it is important to guarantee autonomous production. We need rules similar to those of the United States. We have to produce our tanks in Europe, our planes, because in America we build everything. the equipment not only for the local market but also for the European one ”, pointed out the French president, although no European army (except Greece) uses American tanks.

You want the third way

“It is very important not only to think about one’s era and keep a certain distance, but also to have a vision of one’s era,” the French president noted, adding that he was also interested in the works of Kaunas-born Litvak. , and the famous French philosopher Emmanuel Levin. That is why his vision is based on the ideas of a more united Europe.

“We need to invest more in the future, we need more solidarity. We need to continue the themes of transnational campaigns, and the Conference on the Future of Europe is one of those initiatives that will help promote democracy in Europe. Is COVID changing that vision? ? No, the pandemic has shown that we must act together.

Europe, of course, has taken a long time to do, especially in terms of crisis coordination: we see the same in the first and second waves, they were all behind them at the time of the crisis, we saw it in Poland and in the countries neighbors. When there is no cooperation, there are borders, tensions, it is not good. The pandemic has shown that we are overly reliant on the rest of the world, like China, when it comes to masks and other protective measures. Sovereignty is not a curse, a pandemic has shown that we need to have a European strategy not to depend on other powers and that the most important teams are produced in Europe, “said Macron.

According to Macron, European unity and sovereignty are important in relations with China. When asked about the EU’s strengths and weaknesses in its relations with China, he reaffirmed his ambitions and visions as one of Europe’s leaders.

“I believe that our relations with China must be coordinated. For a long time we had an opportunistic program from China’s point of view, we considered China a market and the Chinese invested, but we did not have a European sovereignty strategy, there were many bilateral agreements. In the wake of the economic crisis, Europe, especially southern Europe, has made it possible to invest in strategic areas. If we believe in a sovereign Europe, we also believe in a united Europe, “said Macron, adding that it is not necessary to follow the formats 17 + 1 supported by China, but the common position of all EU countries on all issues, be it human rights or trade.

“We cannot accept that China and the United States rule the world. We must be united, because otherwise we will have to choose between American or Chinese investment. The EU will say for itself that it will buy equipment from China, but it will choose the US in other circumstances. How many EU members want the US to provide defense? But how many countries have opted for Chinese 5G technology? Countries choose not to be sovereign and will not be when there is a conflict between China and the United States “, said E. Macron with empathy. He added that the United States continues to be an ally of Europe, but that in the interests a European strategy and the strengthening of European sovereignty are needed.

“Even if the United States is our partner, we must find a way to create a third pole, which is our responsibility for world peace,” Macron said.

Reality for you, Macron, also for you?

Such thoughts from the French leader have received mixed evaluations. Professor Tomas Janeliūnas from the Vilnius University Institute of International Relations and Political Sciences assured that E. Macron’s speeches are still out of touch with reality.

“On the one hand, Mr Macron is right in saying that the United States will increasingly care about China, not Europe. However, since World War II, Europeans have not been able to take care of their own security and still cannot. Therefore, inevitably, regardless of Russia, an aggressive country, we trust the United States, a state that now has the most powerful military, the most modern military equipment and the strongest positions and the will to stop the aggressors.

Europeans (perhaps) will have all this only in the future. And so far, the indecision of the EU only confirms that it would be very naive to rely solely on the EU’s visions of solidarity. The EU, for example, has not even been able to agree on sanctions against the Belarusian regime, much less on a more serious involvement in the crisis. So far, Macron’s visions are for him and reality is for him. And, unfortunately, Russia itself will take advantage of this gap between visions and reality at every opportunity, “said the political scientist.

Belarus in no rush to lead

These assessments have only been reinforced by the fact that Macrono’s speeches on European leadership and strategic goals sounded just after the French president spoke about a previous meeting with Sviatlana Cochanouskaya, considered a symbol of the Belarusian opposition.

The latter revealed that the Belarusians expected France to play a mediating role in trying to resolve the political crisis in Belarus after the Aliaksandr Lukashenko regime, which rigged the elections, remained in power and did not consider negotiating with the opposition or even withdrawing. . How can France and the EU as a whole help? Here, Macron was no longer so optimistic and did not speak of European unity, taking responsibility for initiatives.

“We do not recognize Lukashenko’s election. What needs to be done? Europe is acting, it is pushing, we will adopt a sanctions list in the coming days or weeks, and that will have an impact on a regime that is coming to an end.

We will also promote mediation (France may not be a mediator, although Ms. Cichanouskaja has asked for it, but we will use the OSCE), together with Chancellor Merkel and European Council President Charlie Michel, we would like to encourage Belarus to accept OSCE mediation.

Only in this way can we guarantee a peaceful transfer of power that takes into account public opinion to free political prisoners. On the other hand, we need to develop a dialogue with Russia, talk to Mr. Putin.

We have been saying since August that it would be a mistake and an unjustifiable provocation if Russia were to introduce its forces into Belarus, that is why we are encouraging mediation, “said Macron, recalling that Europe needs more sovereignty, because this issue is blocked by Cyprus, one of the the smallest members of the Community with their own interests.