Speaking alongside Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at an event organised by Greek newspaper Kathimerini, French President Emmanuel Macron said that “it’s clear that NATO is under pressure” and warned of a “dot on Article 5,” — NATO’s collective defence clause — put on the table by US President Donald Trump, adding that this is “de facto weakening the strength of the alliance.”
The French president reiterated support for a “European pillar of NATO” and said European countries “have to be much stronger and work together and launch together common operations” as part of broader strategic autonomy efforts.
Macron’s remarks come amid wider strains within the transatlantic alliance. The Pentagon recently announced plans to withdraw around 5,000 US troops from Germany, with NATO officials stating they were working to “understand the details” of the decision.
Developments have also highlighted growing tensions over burden-sharing, strategic autonomy, and Europe’s long-term security dependence on Washington, while NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has, in recent months, sought to ease concerns surrounding alliance unity and US commitment to NATO.
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