Emmanuel Macron said he prefers "respect rather than bullying" and "a society governed by law rather than by brutality" - obvious references to US President Donald Trump's statements, including punitive tariffs.
Of course, France and Europe adhere to national self-determination and independence, to the UN and its charter, he said, a reference to Trump's attempt to create a global "peace council" perceived as a challenger to the UN.
Macron also raised the EU's anti-coercive mechanism, known as the "trade bazooka." The union should not hesitate to use it if necessary, the French president said. He has also signaled this earlier in European discussions on how to respond to Trump's hardline policies.
