The Iran war requires a serious approach that does not change every day, Emmanuel Macron has said, in an apparent reference to US President Donald Trump's seemingly contradictory remarks about the conflict.
This is not a show. We are talking about war and peace and the lives of men and women, the French president told journalists upon arrival in South Korea for a state visit.
When you want to be serious you don't say every day the opposite of what you said the day before. And maybe you shouldn't be speaking every day. You should just let things quieten down.
Macron was answering questions on the US-Israel war in Iran, which has now entered its second month. France and other European countries have supported some of the US operations in the region, but have so far resisted getting dragged into the war.
Trump and his administration have so far offered mixed messages on the conflict, at various times suggesting that a ceasefire was near, that the war had already been won or that the US was going to fight on.
Macron also addressed Trump's recent comments regarding NATO membership, stating that alliances like NATO are valuable because of the trust behind them, arguing that casting doubt on one's commitment undermines the organization's substance.
Moreover, Macron expressed his view that there is too much inconsistency in the statements made regarding military interventions, underlining that the US and Israel need to engage in serious discussions about their military operations rather than making declarations that create confusion.
In a recent incident, Trump mocked Macron during a private lunch, making derogatory comments about his marriage. Macron dismissed these remarks as neither elegant nor up to standard, highlighting the negative reception of Trump's comments in France and the broader international community.
Emphasizing the need for a composed approach, Macron suggested that military actions are not the foolproof solution to preventing Iran's nuclear advancement, insisting on the necessity of oversight and diplomatic solutions in international relations.
