French President Emmanuel Macron has stirred the international community with his speech at Davos, Switzerland. Facing relentless verbal attacks from U.S. President Donald Trump, Macron has expressed deep concerns about the deteriorating world order. In his speech, he used words like 'bullies' and emphasized prioritizing respect and rule-based systems over coercion.
Without naming names but clearly alluding to U.S. President Donald Trump's policies, Macron pointed out that the world is heading toward a 'world without rules', where international law is being trampled and only the 'law of the strongest' prevails.
Sporting blue sunglasses, Macron addressed global leaders at the World Economic Forum, saying, "Look at the crossroads we're at. I'm talking about a shift from democracy towards dictatorship. More violence, over 60 wars in 2024 – a record even if some were orchestrated. Conflict has become normalized, hybridized, spreading through demands, territories, digital information, cyber, trade, and more."
International laws are trampled underfoot
Discussing American high-handedness, Macron stated, "This marks a shift towards a world without rules where international law is trampled, and it seems only the strongest law matters."
Having faced threats of 200% tariffs from Trump, France's President mentioned resurgent imperial ambitions, pointing at Russia's war, the ongoing Russian aggression against Ukraine, which will enter its fourth year next month, as well as ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and across Africa.
Multilateralism is being weakened
This marks a shift towards a world where effective collective governance fails, and multilateralism weakens due to powers obstructing or ignoring it, weakening the rules.
Referring to instances where Trump has disregarded international institutions, Macron noted, "I can cite examples of international organizations weakened or abandoned by large economies. It's a deeply concerning time as we dismantle the structure where we could address issues and face common challenges."
Tariffs used to pressure sovereignty
Macron further noted that a confrontational path is replacing collective governance. Mentioning American tariffs, he highlighted how trade agreements undermine export interests, demanding more concessions, openly aim to weaken and dominate Europe, with an endless heap of tariffs, fundamentally unacceptable, especially when used to pressure regional sovereignty.
France's President argued cooperation is key to solving these issues, adopting new methods. "It's about more economic sovereignty and strategic economics, especially for Europeans," he said.
Macron's sky-blue glasses steal the show and spotlight
Besides the address, Macron's sky-blue sunglasses caught attention. Normally seen without glasses, Macron's look went viral on social media.
Source: aajtak
The glasses have a medical reason, Macron explained, citing an eye issue. He humbly apologized at the meeting's start, "Forgive the sunglasses, a slight eye issue."
French media reported it was due to a burst blood vessel causing swelling in Macron's eye. The French President was seen on January 15 with visibly red, swollen eyes.
We prefer respect over bullies
France's President declared his commitment to fulfilling this global agenda by 2026, seeking greater cooperation to address global imbalances, striving for a stronger, more self-reliant Europe, rooted in the mentioned principles.
To tackle these issues, Macron advocated returning to dialogue, but with more defense and security investments and commitments. "We must invest significantly because we believe this continent, at its core, needs more growth and this world needs more stability," he urged.
"But we prefer respect over bullies. We favor science over schemes and choose the rule of law over brutality."
