Macron: US breaking free from international rules, turning away from allies

French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday accused the United States of 'breaking free from international rules' and 'gradually turning away' from allies. Speaking at the annual Ambassadors' Conference in Paris, Macron warned that multilateral institutions are functioning less effectively as great powers show a 'real temptation to divide up the world.'

Macron's speech came as European powers scramble for coordinated responses to assertive US foreign policy. This follows Washington's capture of Venezuela's leader Nicolas Maduro in a special forces raid last Saturday, and President Trump's repeated insistence on taking control of Greenland, which Denmark controls. Trump has refused to rule out using force to seize the strategic Arctic island, prompting condemnation from Denmark and European allies, with Copenhagen warning such action would end the NATO alliance.

The French leader urged Europe to 'reinvest fully in the United Nations' while noting 'its largest shareholder no longer believes in it.' The White House on Wednesday flagged US exit from 66 global organizations and treaties—roughly half affiliated with the UN—citing them as 'contrary to US interests.' Macron called for consolidation of European tech regulation, specifically defending the Digital Markets Act and Digital Services Act. He stressed safeguarding academic independence and creating a 'controlled information space' where algorithm choices don't dominate.

US tech companies have criticized these rules as attempts to coerce American platforms into censorship. The EU's digital regulations aim to rein in tech giants on competition and content moderation. For Nigerians following global tech and trade policies, this US-EU split could affect digital services, data flows, and tech investment opportunities in African markets.

SOURCE: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/01/08/macron-accuses-us-of-breaking-free-from-international-rules/