European political order ‘in danger,’ ‘not always aligned’ with US, French foreign minister says

The European political order “is today in danger”, the French foreign minister says in his annual address to France’s ambassadors.

“No, European civilization will not fade away. But yes, our political order is today in danger, despite its precious stability in an unpredictable world, despite its immense scientific, technological, cultural and financial wealth,” says Jean-Noel Barrot.

A national security strategy released in December by the administration of US President Donald Trump included harsh words for Europe, describing it as facing “civilizational erasure” from migration and calling for “cultivating resistance” among right-wing parties.

“No, Europe is not on the brink of civilizational erasure, and the presumptuous voices claiming it is would do better to watch out for their own erasure,” the French minister says.

But the European Union is, in his view, “threatened from the outside by adversaries who are trying to unravel the bonds of solidarity that unite us” and “from within by democratic fatigue.”

“Let’s be clear: nothing guarantees today that we will still be living within the European Union as we know it in 10 years,” he warns.

He describes the United States as “allies with whom we are not always aligned.”

“In a matter of months, the new American administration decided — and that is its right — to rethink the ties that bind us. It is also our right to say no to a historic ally, however historic it may be, when its proposal is not acceptable and when we must say no,” Barrot said.