French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized the need for Europe to strengthen its unity and defend its interests following the reelection of US President Donald Trump. Speaking during a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Wednesday, Macron stressed the crucial role France and Germany must play in consolidating European sovereignty and strength.

"With the new US administration taking office, Europeans and our two countries need to fully play their role in consolidating Europe for its unity, strength, and sovereignty like never before," Macron stated.

Macron also underscored the importance of bolstering critical European sectors, particularly defense, to ensure the continent’s autonomy and resilience in the face of shifting global dynamics.

In a related statement, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot cautioned against Europe becoming embroiled in the growing confrontation between the United States and China. In an interview with Swiss newspaper Le Temps, Barrot highlighted the need for Europe to chart an independent course.

"Europe should avoid getting entangled in the confrontation between the United States and China that it did not choose," Barrot said. He noted that Europe’s relations with these powers are shaped by "history, geography, or values" and pointed to recent measures, such as tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, as evidence of Europe’s ability to assert its interests when threatened.

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Barrot emphasized the importance of maintaining engagement with China as a key trading partner while safeguarding European priorities, security, and economic competitiveness.

Macron has consistently urged Europe to enhance its autonomy, describing the need for the continent to "wake up" and recalibrate its relationship with its "US ally."

Fear over anti-Russia sanctions reversal

EU officials are concerned that US President-elect Donald Trump might undo the executive orders issued by outgoing President Joe Biden that imposed sanctions on Russia once he assumes office, according to a Financial Times (FT) report on Friday, citing informed sources.
 
In the summer, the European Commission established a team of senior officials to examine Biden's executive orders on Russia sanctions, trade, and cybersecurity, aiming to assess how their removal could affect EU policy.

As per the report, EU officials hope to use these sanctions as leverage in potential negotiations with Moscow over a ceasefire in Ukraine.
 
The EU acknowledges the possibility that Trump could reverse certain key measures solely because they were introduced by Biden, FT reported, noting that it is typical for a new president to alter existing orders shortly after taking office, as executive orders can be issued and undone at any time.

It is worth mentioning that when Trump assumed office in 2017, he reversed his predecessor Barack Obama's "thaw" in relations with Cuba and withdrew the US from the Paris climate agreement. A year later, he also pulled the US out of the nuclear deal with Iran.
 
Since the NATO-led war in Ukraine began in February 2022, the EU has imposed 15 sanction packages on Russia. However, instead of weakening Russia, Western sanctions have led to rising electricity, fuel, and food prices in Europe and the US.

That said, the Russian government asserts that the West lacks the courage to acknowledge the failure of its sanctions policy. President Vladimir Putin argues that the West's long-term strategy is to contain and weaken Russia, regardless of the harm it causes to the global economy.