Macron stands by NATO 'brain death' comments

Macron and Stoltenberg met in Paris (Credit: AFP)

French President Emmanuel Macron has said he "totally stands by" his comments that NATO was experiencing "brain death."

Macron was speaking after meeting Jens Stoltenberg, NATO's secretary general in Paris.

His original comments came in an interview with The Economist magazine published earlier this month, in which he expressed doubt about NATO's principle that an attack on one ally was an attack on all, which has underpinned transatlantic ties since the alliance was founded in 1949.

"What we are currently experiencing is the brain death of NATO," Macron said in the interview. Before replying "I don't know," when asked if he still believed in the collective defense guarantee.

NATO includes space as new operational domain ahead of leaders' summit

His comments raised tensions ahead of the planned summit of NATO leaders in London next month.

Following his meeting with Stoltenberg on Thursday, Macron defended his original comments, saying NATO members were no longer cooperating strategically on a range of key issues.

"I totally stand by raising these ambiguities because I believe it was irresponsible of us to keep talking about financial and technical matters, given the stakes we currently face," Macron said.

French President Emmanuel Macron welcomes Russia's President Vladimir Putin, at his summer retreat of the Bregancon fortress on the Mediterranean coast, near the village of Bormes-les-Mimosas, France, August 19, 2019. /Reuters Photo

Macron denies accepting Putin's missile proposal

Macron also denied having accepted a Russian proposal to impose a moratorium on missile deployments in Europe, but said it was important the Kremlin initiative not be simply dismissed.

Russia has called on the U.S. and other countries to declare a moratorium on the deployment of short- and intermediate-range nuclear missiles in Europe after the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty banning such a move formally ended in August.

Macron said European nations should be involved in talks about any new pact limiting mid-range nuclear missiles held by the U.S. and Russia: "We cannot just content ourselves with bilateral treaties."

"We want a lucid, robust and demanding dialogue with Russia, with neither naivety nor complacency," Macron said at a press conference alongside Stoltenberg at the Elysee Palace.

"An accord that would replace the INF... requires the involvement of Europeans," he added. "It's a question of the security of Europe."

Source(s): AFP