Macron calls of US-China divide biggest problem, calls for new global coalitions
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French President Emmanuel Macron has identified the growing divide between the United States and China as the most significant risk facing the world today.
Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Friday, Macron emphasised the urgency of forming new global partnerships, particularly between France and Indo-Pacific nations.
Macron's visit to Singapore comes as France and the European Union seek to deepen economic relationships across Asia, aiming to reduce reliance on Western markets amid ongoing uncertainty surrounding U.S. tariff policies under President Donald Trump.
"I will be clear, France is a friend and an ally of the United States, and is a friend, and we do cooperate — even if sometimes we disagree and compete — with China," Macron stated during the defence forum, which brings together global security and policy leaders.
Highlighting shared interests between Asia and Europe, Macron stressed the importance of preventing the breakdown of the international order. He urged like-minded nations to move beyond neutrality and form proactive alliances.
"The time for non-alignment has undoubtedly passed, but the time for coalitions of action has come, and requires that countries capable of acting together give themselves every means to do so," he said.
His visit follows recent diplomatic efforts by leaders from China, Japan, and other European nations, all underscoring Southeast Asia’s increasing strategic significance amid global supply chain disruptions and shifting trade dynamics.
