The French president also said he expects the tension between him and the United States to defeat President Donald Trump.
“This is a historic trend,” he said. “We can cooperate with the United States on some issues, and (that) still makes a lot of sense because of common values and historical bonds, but I strongly believe that this American approach will last,” he added.
He said the main difference between Trump’s first and second terms is that many European countries thought the first term was a violation that would end, not requiring fundamental changes.
“Now, many of our colleagues are more open, because after many years, we say, okay, we have to act. We have to act like Europeans, be more united, defend our own interests. And for me, this is the right direction.”
Macron flew to Athens after an informal meeting of the European Council in Cyprus as Greece and France are set to re-sign a bilateral security pact on Saturday.
Signing is looking to update agreement reached in 2021 between Macron and Mitsotakis, which includes a mutual defense clause and a commitment from Greece to buy at least 3 billion Euros worth of French warships.
The renewal will be extended for another five years, with automatic renewal thereafter and is also expected to include new areas of cooperation, such as foreign policy, civil defense and the economy.
