Macron accuses US of breaking free from international rules
French President Emmanuel Macron has accused the United States of “breaking free from international rules” and turning away from its traditional allies, marking one of his strongest criticisms yet of Washington’s foreign policy under President Donald Trump. Macron made the remarks on January 8, 2026, in his annual speech to French ambassadors at the Élysée Palace in Paris, as European leaders assess recent developments in global politics. He said the United States, once a staunch promoter of international norms, is now acting increasingly unilaterally and distancing itself from multilateral institutions that helped shape the post-World War II world order.
Macron specifically warned that the US appears to be “gradually turning away from some of its allies” and drifting from the international rules it had supported in the past, a shift he said risks weakening global cooperation and undermining collective security. He described a world where powerful nations are more tempted to pursue their own interests at the expense of shared norms, and urged Europe to safeguard its interests and reinforce cooperation within multilateral frameworks. Macron’s comments come amid tensions over recent US actions, including a controversial military operation in Venezuela that drew international criticism and concerns about respect for international law.
The French president’s stance reflects broader unease among European and other global partners, who worry that a US approach perceived as unilateral could erode the effectiveness of international institutions and alliances. Macron emphasised the importance of multilateralism and called on nations to work together to uphold international rules rather than retreat into isolated decision-making. His remarks have heightened diplomatic scrutiny of US foreign policy direction and sparked debate about the future of transatlantic relations at a time of shifting geopolitical dynamics.
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