French president calls for joint defense of multilateralism and warns of growing threats to European democracy
Soldecanarias.net / London
French President Emmanuel Macron delivered a powerful speech before the British Parliament on Tuesday, urging France and the United Kingdom to strengthen their historic alliance to protect multilateralism and the international order amid growing global instability. He cited Vladimir Putin’s Russia as a common threat.
The address marked a high point of Macron’s three-day state visit to the UK, which included a historic gesture: the loan of the legendary Bayeux Tapestry to the British Museum. The iconic medieval artwork, which chronicles the Norman conquest of England in 1066, symbolizes the deep-rooted connection between the two nations.
Macron emphasized the need for Europe to reduce its overdependence on both the United States and China, calling on European nations to strengthen sovereignty in politics and technology. He warned of new threats to democracy, including foreign interference, disinformation, emotional manipulation, and social media addiction.
The president also reaffirmed his support for the two-state solution as the only path toward peace in the Middle East, advocating for the recognition of a Palestinian state.
He celebrated renewed defense cooperation between the UK and the EU, as well as bilateral agreements between Paris and London, particularly the Lancaster accords, which enhance joint security and military collaboration in an increasingly uncertain global landscape.
Macron’s visit is widely seen as a move to rebuild trust between two long-time allies whose ties were strained by Brexit but who remain united by shared values and common challenges.
