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, Macron added.
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 in which the US president said he was reconsidering his country's membership of NATO.
Alliances like NATO are valuable because of what is unspoken – meaning the trust behind them, Macron said, arguing that casting doubt on one's commitment to the organization emptied it of its substance.
I feel like there is too much chatter, it's all over the place, he said.
He added he was unwilling to comment on an operation that the US and the Israelis decided on by themselves. Macron also referenced past US strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, questioning the efficacy of such military actions in relation to ongoing tensions.
Trump, meanwhile, has criticized France's role in the Iran conflict, making mocking remarks about Macron and his marriage, which drew widespread disapproval in France. Many see the comments as unacceptable, regardless of political alignment.
As tensions rise with Iran, rooted in its retaliatory actions and the ongoing conflict, Macron's calls for a serious approach highlight the complexities of international relations and the need for coherent strategies moving forward.
