Emmanuel Macron has spoken up for Europe\u2019s ability to defend itself, saying a mutual assistance clause, enshrined in the EU treaty, was unambiguous and \u201cnot just words\u201d.<\/p>\n
The French president said the pact had already been proved in action when several member states sent military aid to Cyprus after a drone attack against a British airbase on the island on 28 February.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn article 42, paragraph 7, it\u2019s not just words,\u201d the French leader said. \u201cWe know that for us, it \u2060is clear \u200cand \u200cthere is no room \u200cfor interpretation or \u200cambiguity.\u201d<\/p>\n
Macron, in Greece<\/a> to renew a bilateral strategic defence agreement, described the clause as \u201cstronger\u201d than article 5, Nato\u2019s collective defence clause, as he reiterated his long-held belief that Europe was better off boosting its own security than relying on an increasingly erratic US under Donald Trump. \u201cI really believe this US approach will last,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n A day earlier, EU leaders, attending an informal council in Cyprus, said plans were being finessed<\/a> on how the obscure clause would work in practice. Speaking on Friday, the European Council president, Ant\u00f3nio Costa, said: \u201cWe are designing the handbook [on] how to use this mutual assistance clause.\u201d<\/p>\n Macron questioned the efficacy of the Nato article when asked about the military alliance and its founding principle under which members come to one another\u2019s aid if they are attacked.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is now a doubt on article 5, not put on the table by the Europeans but by the US president,\u201d he told the audience during a discussion held with the Greek prime minister in the capital\u2019s picturesque Roman-era agora. \u201cIt is clearly a de facto weakening of the Nato alliance \u2026 I am a strong believer in the European pillar of Nato and my view is that we should strengthen this European pillar.\u201d<\/p>\n His Greek counterpart, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, appeared to agree, calling the decision to rush fighter jets and naval support to Cyprus \u201ca gamechanger\u201d for the bloc.<\/p>\n