French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire today defended the need for the introduction of the EU. to build their “independence” and their own “strategic thinking” against their American “allies” after the controversial statements of French President Emmanuel Macron regarding Taiwan.

“The President of the Republic is absolutely right in calling for the independence and sovereignty of Europe, as he has been doing since 2017,” Lemer said on the air of Europe 1 radio station.

“Obviously we are allies of the US, we have common values, we have many common economic interests, but this does not mean that because we are allies of the US, we should be against China,” he continued. .

“And we should not be blamed for this rivalry that exists between the US and China, we want to build European independence, strengthen Europe,” the French minister stressed.

Like the EU, France also chooses “the path of dialogue,” Lemaire stressed. “Isn’t that preferable to the logic of confrontation and escalation of any conflict?” he added.

Macron, in an interview with French newspaper Les Echos published on Sunday, said he refuses to “accept the logic of blocs” and urged Europe not to succumb to the logic of “following” the US or China on Taiwan. but to constitute the “third pole”.

Following his reactionary statements, the French President today begins a two-day official visit to the Netherlands, where he is expected to “present his vision” of European sovereignty and “security” in terms of economy and industry.

“We should not find ourselves between a rock and a hard place, we should build up our own forces,” Lemer stressed.

“This means that we must clearly say that in economic matters, in matters of the budget, in matters of geopolitics, Europe must have its own strategic thinking. It is an ally of the Americans, but it does not necessarily have the same strategic thinking as the United States,” the French minister concluded.

Source: APE-MPE, AFP.