Atmanirbhar Europe? France's Macron pushes for Rafale as alternative to US jets

French President Emmanuel Macron, in a quirky post on X, exhorted European nations to rethink their dependence on American fighter jets and positioned France's Rafale as an alternative in a push towards strategic autonomy.Macron's post featured a Rafale jet on a mobile interface, with the text on the call banner reading, "Secure our Europe". The X post was captioned as, "European friends, you have a call".advertisementWhile Macron did not elaborate on the post, it is being viewed as an outreach to European countries, including NATO allies, to strengthen collective defence by buying European military hardware and reducing dependence on American technology amid the uncertainties in US foreign policy following Donald Trump's return to office.
For Europe, reliance on American-made military hardware has been the cornerstone of its security needs for decades.Macron, a vocal supporter of European strategic autonomy, had pushed his case in March as well."We must offer European alternatives to countries accustomed to American equipment... Scaling up production of these systems will lower costs and create a self-sustaining defence network across Europe," the French President told reporters.RAFALE VS US F-35 JETIn recent years, countries like Poland and Finland have opted for the US-made F-35 fifth generation stealth fighter aircraft, produced by Lockheed Martin. In 2020, Poland signed a USD 4.6 billion deal for 32 F-35s. Finland also ordered 64 such aircraft in 2021.advertisementThe Rafale is a 4.5-generation fighter jet, developed by France's Dassault Aviation, and is capable of air-to-air combat, and ground strikes. On the other hand, the selling point of the F-35 is its stealth features, advanced electronic warfare systems and sensors.Macron's call comes at a time when speculation has swirled on social media about the potential existence of a 'kill switch' on the F-35s - a mechanism that would allow the US to remotely disable or limit the functionality of the jets sold to allies. However, the Pentagon has strongly refuted such rumours.Moreover, the timing of Macron's post comes at a time when US military aid to Ukraine, which is locked in a never-ending war with Russia, has dried up.MACRON VS TRUMPIt also comes on the backdrop of a social media exchange between Macron and Trump over the Israel-Iran war.After the US President left the G7 Summit a day early, Macron suggested to reporters that it was probably to negotiate a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. "There is indeed an offer to meet and exchange," Macron said.As soon as his remarks went viral, Trump was swift to slam his "publicity-seeking" French counterpart."Macron mistakenly said that I left the G7 Summit, in Canada, to go back to DC to work on a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. Wrong! He has no idea why I am now on my way to Washington. Whether purposely or not, Emmanuel always gets it wrong," Trump said in a post on Truth Social.Must Watch

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Grounded In Kerala, British Fighter Jet For ‘Sale On OLX': ‘Automatic Parking, Gun To Destroy...'

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The Hindu

29 minutes ago

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Israel hits Iranian nuclear research facility as war continues into second week

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Time of India

32 minutes ago

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Trump's decision to nominate her as DNI in November 2024 surprised many but aligned with his history of installing loyalists in key positions, often outside traditional establishment picks. Trump values loyalty but is also attracted to figures who carry an aura of independence, so long as it doesn't directly challenge his authority. Gabbard was useful to Trump because she legitimized his anti-establishment credentials while also appealing to veterans and libertarian-leaning conservatives. Her appointment as DNI was also tactical: Trump sought to shake up the intelligence community, which he has long viewed with suspicion. She, as an outsider with military gravitas and a maverick reputation, fit the bill. Her initial cooperation and alignment with Trump's broad foreign policy themes -- anti-interventionism, skepticism of the intelligence "deep state," and a focus on China -- made her a valuable asset. 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She stated that the U.S. intelligence community 'continued to assess that Tehran is not currently pursuing a nuclear weapon,' echoing long-standing assessments from both the Biden and previous Trump-era intelligence reports. Trump, however, has taken a harder line in recent months, arguing that Iran is 'weeks away' from acquiring a nuclear bomb -- statements likely influenced by his desire to project strength in the lead-up to the 2026 midterms and potentially 2028. When Gabbard's testimony was raised in a press gaggle on Monday evening, Trump dismissed her comments, saying, 'I don't care what she says.' By Friday, the rebuke was more explicit. Trump's public rebuke of Gabbard suggests a brewing frustration with her unwillingness to bend the intelligence narrative to align with his political messaging, a pattern seen in past Trump appointments, from James Comey to John Bolton. The public criticism, particularly over an issue as significant as Iran's nuclear program, is a red flag. 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Her reputation as a principled non-interventionist still holds sway with a segment of the right—and even some independents. She could pivot to a media career, possibly on platforms like Fox News, Newsmax, or a new independent outlet. Politically, she could mount a Senate run or become a prominent surrogate for another faction within the GOP, possibly even challenging Trumpism from within if his grip on the party begins to loosen. Alternatively, she may bide her time, reemerging post-Trump with renewed relevance in a reshaped Republican landscape. The Trump-Gabbard saga encapsulates the volatility of MAGA politics. Their alliance was one of strategic convenience more than ideological cohesion. Trump elevated Gabbard because she was useful; now, as she asserts independence on sensitive intelligence matters, she risks becoming expendable.