French President Emmanuel Macron has urged European countries to build stronger defence capabilities without depending on the United States. In a social media post on Friday, Macron posted an image on X showing an iPhone with an incoming call from “Rafale” the French-made fighter jet along with a photo of the aircraft flying over a barren landscape. He wrote, “European friends, you have a call.” European friends, you have a call. pic.twitter.com/VY7gmqPUKZ — Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) June 20, 2025 The post has been widely seen as a message encouraging Europe to boost defence cooperation and become more self-reliant in military matters. Push for homegrown European defence Macron has repeatedly argued that Europe needs to reduce its dependence on American military support, especially in light of ongoing conflicts like the war in Ukraine and political uncertainty in the US. US President Donald Trump has said NATO countries must increase their defence spending or risk losing US support. Macron’s post appears to respond to this, highlighting the need for Europe to take its security into its own hands. Why Rafale? The Rafale fighter jet is developed and produced in France and is widely seen as a symbol of European defence capability. It can carry out air and ground missions and is equipped with long-range missiles like the Meteor and SCALP. While Rafales are made in Europe, many European countries have recently chosen the American F-35 stealth fighter instead. Poland, Finland, Germany, Italy, and others already operate or have ordered the F-35. Despite the Rafale’s strong performance, including its recent use by the Indian Air Force during Operation Sindoor, it has faced tough competition from the US-made jet. European alternatives needed, Macron says In March, Macron called for large-scale investment in a shared European defence plan. He told French newspaper Le Parisien, “It’s quarter to midnight. As there are doubts over American support for Europe over time, we need to mobilise hundreds of billions of euros it is Europe’s strategic wake-up moment.” He added that European countries should develop and produce their own equipment to lower costs and reduce outside dependence. “We must offer European alternatives to countries used to US equipment,” he said. Macron's push has support from other leaders, including Germany’s Friedrich Merz, who has also said Europe must strengthen its military independence. India’s Rafale India recently agreed to buy 26 naval versions of the Rafale jet. Meanwhile, several European nations, including the UK and Germany, continue to invest heavily in the F-35 despite ongoing technical issues, such as a grounded British jet recently stuck in Thiruvananthapuram due to a fault. Macron’s message comes as Europe discusses the future of NATO and considers how to defend itself in a changing global landscape.
