PARIS ― In a significant address to the National Assembly on Monday, French Prime Minister François Bayrou expressed concern over the current state of the transatlantic alliance, declaring it “seriously wounded” due to President Donald Trump’s recent conduct regarding Ukraine. Bayrou characterized Trump’s behavior towards Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as “an indecency,” highlighting the international implications of such actions.
Bayrou’s remarks came in the wake of a controversial incident at the White House on Friday evening. He described the scene as “staggering,” marked by brutality and a clear intention to humiliate Zelenskyy, aimed at compelling him to submit to the aggressor’s demands. This incident followed a period of increasing closeness between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, raising alarms among European leaders about the U.S. commitment to its allies.
Concerns among European leaders
Although Bayrou’s influence on foreign policy is somewhat limited, as these matters mainly fall under President Emmanuel Macron’s purview, his comments starkly contrast with the more measured responses from Macron and other leaders. Macron, addressing the situation on Sunday, acknowledged the “legitimate emotion” surrounding Trump’s actions, stating that there is growing “doubt” regarding the long-term U.S. support for Europe.
“I want to make the Americans understand that disengaging from Ukraine is not in their interest,”
Macron urged a return to dialogue between Trump and Zelenskyy, emphasizing the need for calm and mutual respect to facilitate progress. The reaction from the White House has left many European officials questioning the reliability of the U.S. as an ally.
The implications for European security
Bayrou articulated that the incident had two notable victims: Ukraine’s security, as it fights for survival, and the concept of the alliance with the United States. He asserted that Europe is being pressured to accept standards that undermine its values of decency. His comments were made ahead of a parliamentary debate in the French lower chamber, where opposition leaders voiced their concerns regarding European security and the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.
Among those speaking was far-right leader Marine Le Pen, whose party holds approximately one-third of the seats in parliament. She reiterated her faction’s staunch opposition to any proposals for a unified European defense. Macron, who retains exclusive authority over military affairs, called for a substantial increase in defense spending across Europe, suggesting that expenditures should exceed 3 percent of GDP, while France currently allocates 2.1 percent of its GDP to military funding.