French President Emmanuel Macron told CNN’s Fareed Zakaria that currently Europe didn’t have ‘a clear alternative’ to the dollar because "de-facto there is an international extraterritoriality of the dollar due to its strength".
“Until now, we fail to make the euro as strong as the dollar. We made a great job during the past years but it’s not yet sufficient,” he said, when asked whether the EU will come up with a response to the US withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal in terms of currency.
The French president suggested that European corporations and entities were deeply dependent on the US dollar.
“This is an issue of sovereignty for me. So that’s why I want us to work very closely with our financial institutions, at the European levels and with all the partners, in order to build a capacity to be less dependent from the dollar,” he said.
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Macron elaborated that such an alternative was not intended to rival the dollar, but was necessary for "the stability of the global order":
"It doesn’t mean to be opponents – but I think for the stability of the global order, you’ll need a strong currency like [the] dollar, but you need some alternatives. Euro has to be one of these alternatives, which means we have to better enhance our financial structures and the financing of our players at the euro-zone level."
Le Maire praised the Special Purpose Mechanism (SPV) as "the financial instrument of Europe’s independence", insisting that it would contribute to making the euro as strong as the dollar.
"It is urgent to adopt these new instruments to help the Eurozone gain strength and stability. That is the first step on the path of making the euro an international reference currency," he stated.
These remarks came shortly after a new US package of sanctions on Iran’s energy and finance sector came into force on November 5.
On European Security
Although Washington remains Europe’s key ally and partner in many regions, there is a pressing need for Europe to build its own security, Macron stressed.
“The recent years were very much characterised by a decrease of the US’ presence in certain regions. I think that the US remains our first ally everywhere… If after the Second World War we needed the US to be present for our security, I think now the momentum for Europe is to build its own security and its own sovereignty.”
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At the same time, the French President took a moment to say that such a move was not directed against the United States:
“But what Europe needs is to build its own capacity and its autonomy in order to protect itself. That’s why I mean increasing my investment in defence… and that’s why I want to build more solidarity within Europe.”
The interview came shortly after Macron suggested building a ‘true European army’ to protect the continent "with respect to China, Russia and even the United States".
The French President addressed his US counterpart Donald Trump’s recent announcement that Washington would withdraw from the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty over Russia’s alleged violation, saying that the ‘main victim’ of the US exit would be Europe and its security.
“We will not protect the Europeans unless we decide to have a true European army.”
His remarks drew the ire of President Trump, who fired off an angry tweet, calling the suggestion ‘very insulting’:
President Macron of France has just suggested that Europe build its own military in order to protect itself from the U.S., China and Russia. Very insulting, but perhaps Europe should first pay its fair share of NATO, which the U.S. subsidizes greatly!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 9 November 2018
Over the weekend, the two leaders discussed the issue of EU defence capabilities during the bilateral meeting in Paris, with President Trump saying that the US was eager to help its EU allies build a ‘strong Europe’, but at the same time he wanted European nations to bear a greater financial burden for their own security.
