During a historic state visit to the UK, French President Emmanuel Macron delivered a clear message in his address to the British parliament: Europe must no longer rely so heavily on the United States and China. He called on both France and the UK to “cooperate, but not to depend” on global superpowers, warning that the continent’s future lies in strategic autonomy.

Speaking to British MPs and peers, Macron emphasized that Europe’s political and economic resilience depends on breaking what he called “dual dependencies”. He pointed to subsidies and overproduction from China that distort global markets, as well as America’s increasingly protectionist stance that threatens open trade.

“We want an open world. We want to cooperate, but not to depend,” Macron stated, underlining a shift in Europe’s geopolitical thinking.

He stressed that European sovereignty in critical areas – from defense to artificial intelligence and green technologies – must be strengthened. Macron argued that neither the U.S. nor China fully share Europe’s democratic values, and therefore the continent must become more self-sufficient.

The speech also touched on Franco-British cooperation in key sectors, despite Brexit, including migration, climate policy, and defense. Macron described a vision of a “wider Europe”, built on shared values and historical ties.

“Let us not be the vassals of another power, even if it is a friendly one,” he added in a subtle jab at America’s global dominance.

This visit marks a renewed call for Europe to find its own way – economically, politically, and technologically – and comes at a time when tensions between the West and China are rising, and transatlantic ties face growing strain.