France: “We will react if our interests are affected by Donald Trump’s trade war”

The head of French diplomacy, Jean-Noel Barreau, has sent a clear message to them and to his upcoming government, saying that if Washington acts on the threats of ‘commercial war’ against Europe, then France will react. The Secretary of State gave an extensive interview with the Ouest France newspaper in view of Donald Trump’s inauguration today and stressed that “if our interests are affected we will react, ” while arguing the need for a “strong Europe” against the US ‘commercial war’. CORVERSE More specifically, the French Foreign Minister, referring to his country’s relationship with the US, stressed that the friendship between France and the US has lasted over two centuries and has survived 59 American presidential elections, while with regard to the threats of a US and Europe trade war, is wondering who would have an interest in this? As he points out, Americans have a trade deficit against the EU, but the opposite is true with regard to investments: “Many American interests and companies have a presence in Europe. If we increase taxes and duties, the American interests in Europe will be the great losers. The same applies to the American middle class, which would see its purchasing power reduced.” “ If our interests are affected, we will react with firm will. But before we ourselves become involved in a sort of escalation, we should prove that the US has everything to lose from a trade war with Europe” the French Minister points out, pointing out that “a lot has changed since Trump’s first term and Europe has been equipped with means of commercial defence”. “We saw this in the case of electric vehicles imported from China. Everyone needs to know that Europe has decided to ensure fair trade. If we find abusive or unfair practices, we will retaliate,” Baro notes. Trump’s expansive aspirations Asked about Trump’s comments on the annexation of Canada and occupation of Greenland and whether one can consider him a credible ally, the French Foreign Minister answers that he does not believe we will reach this point. “ It is natural for Trump to promote American interests, that is his job. It is up to us, however, to defend ours and to be incompatible with what is non-negotiable. In Greenland, as elsewhere, Europe’s borders are unnegotiable, the same applies to the integrity of our democratic processes, ” Baro notes. The French Foreign Minister also says that “we live at a time when the law of the strongest returns” and that “in this context, Europe must confirm itself without inhibitions or complexes.” “Although it has considerable potential in the political, military, economic and cultural sectors, Europe ignores that it is a great force, but against the new global disorder, it must be revealed as such and France must play a role in it,” he says. Europe against Trump To ask whether he is afraid that some European countries will go alone with the Trump government, the French Foreign Minister replies that the only way for Europe to be heard, to defend its interests and its model, is to speak ‘with one voice’. Noelle Baro repeats the French position that what is at stake is the security of Europeans and the future of international law. “If Ukraine were forced to capitulate today, a precedent would be created that would permanently uphold the law of the strongest. It would be a permanent invitation to all authoritarian regimes to impunityfully invade their neighbours. Such approval would certainly harm the interests of the United States, especially in the Pacific and the Great Sea. I believe that the President-elect is fully aware of this,” says the French Foreign Minister. The war in Ukraine On whether Europeans are prepared to support Ukraine in the event of the withdrawal of US aid and to what extent France is prepared to commit itself to future security guarantees, Baro says there can be no peace in Ukraine without European participation. “We will not return to the world as it was before the offensive war Russia launched nearly 3 years ago. The threat has mutated having taken the form of a large-scale invasion, it has been internationalised and hybridized. Either we will remain blind to this threat mutation and allow the front to approach us at the risk of getting involved one day in the war, or we will significantly increase our defense to prevent the threat and then we will have peace,” he points out. As regards, in particular, NATO, the French Foreign Minister says that “we should do more, no matter what happens, because the world has changed. There is no way that the US will reduce their level of commitment to NATO. Instead of seeing it as a tragedy and pitying ourselves, we should see it as an opportunity for Europe to take a central role in the Alliance, to develop its own vision and its own potential. This is what we mean by the European pillar of NATO that we defend,” he notes. The situation in Syria and the Kurds As regards Turkey’s role in Syria and especially in relation to the Kurds, Baro says that “one of the messages we have conveyed to the transitional authority in Damascus is the fate of the Kurdish allies, who are currently threatened by groups supported by Turkey.” “We want to participate fully in the reconstruction of Syria and respect their rights, without questioning Turkey’s security interests and working actively on it,” the French minister says. To the question of whether the new Syrian authorities have given any answer, the French Foreign Minister says they have sent very clear messages to these armed groups about not attacking Kobani, a city that is emblematic for the Kurds. “This is necessary to ensure the rights of the Kurds and to enable their forces to focus on defending the prisons. Otherwise, they are in danger of becoming vulnerable to the Islamic State’s pursuits, whose main goal is to free the terrorist militants held there, Baro says accordingly adding that the danger of the Islamic State still exists.