Macron urges EU to ditch US arms makers
The French president has said the bloc should prioritize its own military industrial complex

The EU must cut its reliance on US-made weapons and prioritize European alternatives, French President Emmanuel Macron has said. In an interview with French media published on Saturday, Macron argued that the bloc’s rearmament efforts would be more effective if member states stopped “buying American” and instead turned to the EU's military industrial complex.

His comments followed European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s recent proposal to mobilize up to €800 billion ($875 billion) in debt and tax breaks for the bloc's military industrial complex.

Brussels insists the 'ReArm' militarization plan is aimed at countering an alleged “threat” from Russia, an idea Moscow has dismissed as baseless.

In the interview, Macron revealed that he recently met with French defense industry leaders to encourage them to position themselves as alternatives to US suppliers.

“I suggested to manufacturers that they could, on systems where we have the best products, approach European states that have gotten used to buying American,” Macron said.

“Those who buy Patriots, we must offer them the new generation Franco-Italian SAMP/T. Those who buy the F-35s, we must offer them the Rafale,” he added, referring to US missile defense systems and fighter jets and their European analogues.

To make European alternatives more appealing, Macron acknowledged that defense companies need to lower costs, simplify processes, and optimize production. He also linked the issue to growing economic tensions with Washington, citing US President Donald Trump’s recent threats to impose tariffs on EU goods.

“Faced with unpredictable powers, we simply need to be less dependent on them. This means accelerating our sovereignty policy, notably by developing our own production and strategic culture, to be more independent in matters of defense and technology,” he stated.

Macron said he plans to discuss his proposals with incoming German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the coming days.

A report last week by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) found that [Western] Europe's arms imports have more than doubled in the past five years compared to the previous five-year period. Two-thirds have come from the US, up from just over half in the previous period. SIPRI researcher Pieter Wezeman noted that while Europe has taken steps to boost its defense industry, reliance on American arms remains deeply rooted.

https://www.rt.com/news/614337-macron-europe-defense-equipment/

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoRhvBKE3J8

Kaja Kallas has put forward an initiative for the EU to send 40 Billion euros to Ukraine in military aid, at a time when the ending of the war is near. Kestutis Budrys has urged Southern European countries to increase their defence spending at a time when tensions are hjigh with Moscow. Italy and Spain and opposing this initiative for the time being. Also, the EU is considering funding for Radio Liberty.

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YOURDEMOCRACY.NET RECORDS HISTORY AS IT SHOULD BE — NOT AS THE WESTERN MEDIA WRONGLY REPORTS IT.

         Gus Leonisky

         POLITICAL CARTOONIST SINCE 1951.

The tensions had been building for weeks. But on Monday, the EU Council finally decided to impose sanctions on Rwandan military and government officials for their actions in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The EU accuses Rwanda of fueling conflict by  stationing troops in Eastern Congo and exploiting the region's mineral wealth.

Rwanda's reaction was swift and notably harsh. The country severed diplomatic ties with Belgium, its former colonial ruler, and gave Belgian diplomats just 48 hours to leave.

In a statement, the Rwandan Foreign Ministry said: "Belgium has clearly taken sides in a regional conflict and continues to systematically mobilize against Rwanda in different forums […] in an attempt to destabilize both Rwanda and the region."

The EU's decision followed weeks of internal discussions, with member states divided over how to respond to Rwanda's actions. Belgium emerged as the most vocal advocate for sanctions.

"There were discussions on various sanctions and which form these could take, and Belgium was clearly the lead in this," said Kristof Titeca, a professor of international development at the University of Antwerp, in an interview with DW.

Belgium's foreign minister, Maxime Prévot, explained in a statement that his country's aim has never been "to stigmatize or weaken Rwanda, but rather to make it aware of the troubled games it is playing in Eastern Congo and to raise international awareness." The country has now decided to respond in kind and expelled its Rwandan diplomats.

Why did Belgium play such a prominent role in pushing for sanctions? Some critics argue that Belgium, as the former colonial power in the DRC, may feel compelled by a sense of colonial guilt in its stance against Rwanda. Howver, Titeca emphasizes that while this might have had some influence, it definitely cannot explain everything, particularly given that Rwanda itself was also once a Belgian colony

Instead, he says that Belgium has long been involved in the region and that Rwanda's actions constitute a clear violation of international law.

The United Nations, the United States, and the EU accuse Rwanda of funding, supporting, and directing the M23 rebel group, which has been fighting government forces in eastern DRC for years. The group launched a new offensive in January and now controls the region's two largest cities. M23 is just one of about 100 armed groups vying for control in the mineral-rich region near Rwanda's border.

The conflict has led to one of the world's largest humanitarian crises, displacing over 7 million people. U.N. experts estimate that the M23 rebels are backed by around 4,000 Rwandan troops. At times, they have threatened to march all the way to Congo's capital, Kinshasa, over 1,500 kilometers (978 miles) away. According to the U.N. refugee agency, the latest escalation has caused thousands of deaths and displaced more than 500,000 people since the start of the year.

The EU's sanctions are intended to apply pressure on Rwanda, which is often considered one of Africa's developmental success stories, yet still heavily depends on foreign aid, with over a third of its budget coming from international support, according to Titeca. However, he is skeptical that these sanctions will be enough to stop the ongoing conflict.

The sanctions mainly target Rwandan government and M23 officials and do not touch on critical EU policies, agreements, or development aid. Titeca believes the latest measures, while an important step, fall short of what's needed to create a significant impact.

The EU's internal divisions on how to handle Rwanda have been ongoing for some time. Titeca points out that there are many within the EU who advocate for strengthening ties with Rwanda, seeing the country's model as a success. Just last year, the EU signed a deal with Rwanda to enhance cooperation in the mining sector, with a focus on sustainable raw materials.

Titeca suggests that the EU could take further action, such as canceling cooperative agreements or cutting foreign aid, but he doubts this will happen. "The world has changed. We are no longer the EU we were 10, 15 years ago... Western diplomats, whether from the EU or the US, are much more hesitant to apply international pressure or sanctions."

Still, Titeca believes the sanctions have had some effect, pointing to Rwanda's strong diplomatic response as evidence of their impact.

https://www.dw.com/en/why-have-rwanda-and-belgium-cut-diplomatic-ties/a-71966015

THE DELUSION OF THE EU CRUMBLED EMPIRE IS MINDBOGGLING.....

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YOURDEMOCRACY.NET RECORDS HISTORY AS IT SHOULD BE — NOT AS THE WESTERN MEDIA WRONGLY REPORTS IT.

         Gus Leonisky

         POLITICAL CARTOONIST SINCE 1951.