In a bold statement following Donald Trump’s victory in the U.S. presidential election, French President Emmanuel Macron has called on European nations to “take back control” and no longer be at the mercy of their geopolitical rivals. Speaking at a meeting of the European Political Community in Hungary, Macron used a striking metaphor, comparing Europe to a vulnerable herbivore facing the threat of carnivorous opponents ready to devour it.
Europe Must Shed Its Herbivore Ways
Macron’s provocative remarks underscore his view that Europe can no longer afford to be passive on the world stage. As he put it bluntly: “If we decide to remain herbivores, the carnivores will win – and we’ll just become a market for them.”
The French leader stressed, however, that he was not advocating for Europe to become aggressive in turn. Instead, he suggested a third path – that of the omnivore, equally adept at cooperation and competition as needed to protect its interests.
“We can’t be herbivores and not defend ourselves, because we’ll get devoured. But that doesn’t mean we have to become carnivores,” Macron explained. “We can be intelligent, active omnivores.”
– Emmanuel Macron, President of France
A Call for Strategic Autonomy
At the heart of Macron’s vision is the concept of European strategic autonomy – the idea that Europe must be able to stand on its own feet and not be overly reliant on others, whether allies or rivals, for its security and prosperity. This has been a recurring theme of his presidency, but it has taken on new urgency in the wake of Trump’s disruptive tenure and the turbulence it has caused in transatlantic relations.
For Macron, strategic autonomy is not about isolationism or going it alone. Rather, it’s about Europe having the capacity and the will to act decisively when its interests are at stake, in partnership with others where possible but also independently if necessary.
The Threats Facing Europe
So what are the carnivorous threats that Macron sees looming over Europe’s herbivorous present? While he did not name names, it’s clear that he has in mind the assertive stance of powers like Russia and China, which have not hesitated to use military, economic, and technological clout to advance their agendas.
Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and its interference in Western democratic processes have underscored the menace it poses to European security. Meanwhile, China’s growing economic and geopolitical heft, coupled with its authoritarian model, presents a complex challenge that Europe is struggling to navigate.
But the threats are not only external. Macron has also warned of the dangers of internal division and complacency within Europe. The rise of populist and nationalist forces, fueled by economic discontent and fears over immigration, risks weakening European unity and resolve in the face of outside pressure.
“We need to take control of our destiny and not be under others’ control. This is the key to our independence and to Europe’s place in the world that is being reshaped before our eyes,” Macron declared.
– Emmanuel Macron, President of France
Toward a Europe that Protects
So what would a Europe that has shed its herbivore ways look like in practice? For Macron, it means a Europe that is more confident, more capable, and more cohesive in defending its interests and values on the global stage.
- In the realm of defense, it means bolstering Europe’s military capabilities and enhancing cooperation among member states to confront common threats.
- In the economic sphere, it means leveraging Europe’s vast single market and industrial base to compete with the likes of the U.S. and China and to set the rules of globalization on European terms.
- In the technological domain, it means investing in Europe’s digital sovereignty to ensure that key infrastructures and data are not controlled by outside powers.
- And in the geopolitical arena, it means being a power broker in its own right, engaging with other major players but not being beholden to any of them.
Achieving this vision will not be easy. It will require overcoming longstanding differences among European nations, mustering the political will to take bold action, and making the necessary investments in collective capabilities. But for Macron, the alternative – a Europe that remains a passive bystander in a world shaped by others – is simply not acceptable.
Seizing the Moment
Macron’s clarion call comes at a pivotal moment for Europe. With the U.S. consumed by domestic strife and its traditional role as the guarantor of European security in question, there is a growing realization among European leaders that they must take their destiny into their own hands.
The COVID-19 pandemic has also exposed Europe’s vulnerabilities and dependencies in key strategic areas, from health to technology to trade. This has given new impetus to the push for European sovereignty and resilience.
“The best response to COVID is to act European and to learn all the lessons, to become more independent, more sovereign in the strategic areas,” argued a senior EU diplomat.
At the same time, the election of Joe Biden as U.S. president offers an opportunity for Europe to reset transatlantic relations on a more balanced footing. While welcoming Biden’s multilateralist instincts, European leaders are also clear that they will not simply fall back into the old pattern of deference to Washington.
As Macron put it in a recent interview, “The United States will only respect us as allies if we are earnest, and if we are sovereign with respect to our defense.” This means that even as Europe seeks to revive its partnership with the U.S., it must also continue to build up its own capacities and assert its own interests.
Europe’s Omnivorous Future
In the end, Macron’s herbivore-carnivore metaphor is a powerful reminder that in a world of great power competition, Europe cannot afford to be a passive consumer of geopolitics. It must become an active producer, shaping the forces that will define its future.
This means being strategic in its partnerships, firm in its principles, and innovative in its policies. It means investing in the sources of European power – from its economy to its defense to its democracy – and being willing to use that power to advance its interests and values.
Most of all, it means having the confidence and the ambition to be a true global player – not a herbivore at the mercy of carnivores, but an omnivore that can hold its own in a world of complex interdependencies and shifting power balances. This is the gauntlet that Macron has thrown down for his fellow Europeans. The question now is whether they will rise to the challenge.
