SINGAPORE - French President Emmanuel Macron warned the United States and a large audience of Indo-Pacific nations on Friday night that they risk embracing a dangerous dou-ble standard by focusing on a potential conflict with China while potentially abandoning Ukraine.
Macron’s remarks come amid reports that the U.S. is considering shifting military resources from Europe to the Indo-Pacific. He cautioned that walking away from Ukraine would ultimately undermine U.S. credibility in deterring any future conflict with China over Taiwan. In a speech that underscored France’s strong ties to the Indo-Pacific, Macron stressed that any move toward a more hardline deterrent posture in the region must be viewed in the context of how the international community — and particularly the West — addresses other critical global issues, including climate change and Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza. The address was particularly notable because Macron delivered it with former U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, representing President Donald Trump, in the audience. The moment came as both France and many other nations continue to navigate the uncertainty created by Trump’s shifting tariff policies. Countries in both Europe and the Indo-Pacific increasingly find themselves caught between the competing influences of Trump’s America and Chinese President Xi Jinping. (Jamaica Gleaner)