In unusually blunt and seemingly uncoordinated remarks, the presidents of France and Germany have issued strong warnings about the trajectory of U.S. foreign policy under Donald Trump, signaling growing European concern over the erosion of the postwar rules-based international order.
French President Emmanuel Macron told France’s diplomatic corps on Thursday at the Élysée Palace that Washington was “breaking free from international rules” and that multilateral institutions were increasingly ineffective. “We are living in a world of great powers, with a real temptation to divide up the world,” Macron said. “The U.S. is an established power, but one that is gradually turning away from some of its allies and breaking free from the international rules that it was until recently promoting.”
Macron emphasized that France rejects “new colonialism and new imperialism – but also vassalage and defeatism,” highlighting the need for greater European strategic autonomy. He suggested that Europe must reduce its dependence on both the United States and China to safeguard its security and sovereignty.
The French leader’s comments come at a time when the European Union is navigating a complex balancing act: defending international law and multilateral norms, while maintaining ties with Washington as a crucial economic and security partner, particularly in relation to Ukraine.
While neither Macron nor German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier explicitly referenced specific U.S. actions, observers widely interpreted their remarks as responses to the recent U.S. raid in Caracas, which led to the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, as well as President Trump’s publicly stated interest in acquiring Greenland.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned on Thursday that the bloc is closely monitoring Washington’s intentions regarding Greenland. “The messages we hear are extremely concerning,” Kallas said. “If this is a real threat … then what would be our response?”
The matter has also prompted discussions among NATO ambassadors in Brussels, who reportedly agreed that the alliance should bolster Arctic security. A senior NATO diplomat told Reuters, “No drama. Lots of agreement that NATO needs to accelerate its development of [a] stronger deterrence presence in the region.” While concrete measures have yet to be decided, some member states suggested mirroring NATO’s Baltic deployments, which rely on flexible multinational forces and advanced technology such as drones and sensors.
Steinmeier, speaking on Wednesday at a symposium in Berlin marking his 70th birthday, warned that global democracy is at risk. The largely ceremonial German president described the U.S.’s recent behavior as a second “epochal rupture,” following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “There has been a breakdown of values by our most important partner, the U.S., which helped build this world order,” he said. “It is about preventing the world from turning into a robber’s den, where the most unscrupulous take whatever they want.”
He added that the erosion of international norms has reached an advanced stage, putting smaller states at risk of being “completely defenseless” and leaving entire regions vulnerable to domination by a few powerful actors. Steinmeier stressed the need for a reassessment of European security policy. “We must not be weak,” he said. “Germany can only play a role if we are taken seriously, also militarily. This is the goal we have to achieve.”
Macron also highlighted the importance of protecting academic independence and ensuring a “controlled information space,” where opinions can be freely exchanged without being manipulated by algorithms controlled by a handful of tech companies. He underlined the significance of the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) and Digital Services Act (DSA), which regulate competition and content moderation. Both measures have drawn criticism from the United States, which claims the legislation could coerce U.S. technology firms into compliance with European rules. Macron insisted that these initiatives must be defended to maintain European sovereignty in the digital domain.
The comments from Macron and Steinmeier reflect growing frustration within Europe over the unpredictability of U.S. policy and the potential weakening of international norms that have defined global diplomacy for decades. Analysts say Europe is increasingly exploring pathways to assert its strategic independence, particularly in areas such as defense, cybersecurity, and trade, while still navigating the practical necessity of close ties with Washington.
Observers note that the timing of the remarks—coming weeks after the U.S. operation in Venezuela and amidst speculation over Greenland—signals a sense of urgency in Europe to recalibrate its position in global affairs. By stressing the need for autonomous capabilities, Macron and Steinmeier appear to be sending a clear message to both European audiences and the United States: the era of unquestioned U.S. leadership is no longer guaranteed, and Europe must be prepared to safeguard its own interests.
As international attention focuses on U.S. actions in the Americas and the Arctic, European leaders face the challenge of coordinating policy responses across a bloc with diverse interests. Whether these discussions will translate into concrete measures—ranging from stronger military deployments in the Arctic to the deepening of Europe’s technological and defense autonomy—remains uncertain.
Nonetheless, Macron and Steinmeier’s statements underscore a shared concern in Europe: the postwar global order, built on multilateral norms and predictable alliances, is under unprecedented strain. How Europe chooses to respond could have far-reaching implications for international stability, transatlantic relations, and the future of global governance.
