Macron urges Europe to develop its own air defense systems and not rely on the US
French President Emmanuel Macron is urging European nations to seek more independence on airspace defense PARIS -- French President Emmanuel Macron called on European nations Monday to seek more independence on airspace defense and advocated against relying too much on the U.S., a long-divisive issue that takes on new urgency because of Russia’s war in Ukraine. Macron made his case for Europeans building their own airspace protection strategy in the closing speech of a conference in Paris gathering defense ministers and other representatives of 20 European countries. The talks included anti-drone combat and ballistic missile defense, French organizers said, noting that Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has shown the importance and effectiveness of such equipment. Nuclear weapons deterrence was also on the agenda. “We need to know what the threat situation is … And then, what are we, Europeans, able to produce? And what do we then need to buy?" Macron said. He warned aga...