French President Emmanuel Macron publicly criticised U.S. President Donald Trump over his handling of the Iran war and his comments on NATO, highlighting growing divisions among Western allies as the conflict continues. The remarks were made during Macron's state visit to South Korea on Thursday.
Macron raised concerns about Trump's approach to NATO, warning that repeated public statements questioning U.S. commitment to the alliance risk weakening it. "If you create daily doubt about your commitment, you hollow it out," Macron said, pointing to what he described as ongoing uncertainty within the alliance. Trump had escalated his criticism of NATO on Wednesday, suggesting he was seriously considering withdrawing from the alliance and describing it as a "paper tiger."
The comments come as tensions between the United States and several NATO members have grown more visible during the Iran conflict. France, Spain, and Italy have banned U.S. aircraft taking part in the bombing campaign from using their airbases. France has also declined to commit naval assets to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, though it has deployed jets, air defence systems, and naval forces to protect Gulf allies. The differing positions reflect a broader transatlantic divide over strategy and risk assessment.
Macron also criticised proposals to use military force to secure the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil and gas shipping route that has been largely paralysed for weeks by the Iran war. He described such an approach as unrealistic, citing the time required, the threat posed by Iran's Revolutionary Guards, and the range of additional military risks involved. "This can only be done in concert with Iran. So, first and foremost, there must be a ceasefire and a resumption of negotiations," Macron said.
Macron also accused Trump of contributing to confusion by repeatedly contradicting his own positions on the conflict. "When you want to be serious, you don't say the opposite every day of what you said the day before. And perhaps you shouldn't talk every day," he said.
In addition to policy disagreements, Macron addressed personal remarks Trump had made at a private event on Wednesday, in which the U.S. president mocked Macron's relationship with his wife and attempted an imitation of a French accent. Macron described the comments as "neither elegant nor up to standard" and declined to engage further, stating they did not merit a response.
The criticism reflects a broader strain in U.S.-European relations during the conflict. While Washington has pursued a more aggressive military posture, several European governments have emphasised diplomacy and risk containment. The divergence has raised questions about alliance cohesion at a time of heightened geopolitical tension.
At the time of reporting, there had been no formal response from the United States to Macron's statements. The disagreement underscored the challenges facing NATO as it navigated internal divisions while addressing an evolving conflict in the Middle East.
Muskan Zahra
