Macron calls for 'lucid' democracies capable of acting together ahead of G7 summit

French President Emmanuel Macron has called for democracies to be "lucid, strong, and capable of acting together" as he prepares to host the upcoming G7 summit in Évian. Facing an increasingly fragmented international order and a resurgence of power politics, Macron stressed the need for democratic nations to bolster their decision-making autonomy, economic security, industrial and energy resilience, and overall sovereignty.

Speaking alongside Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the Élysée Palace, Macron highlighted a "great convergence of views" between France and Canada, noting their shared understanding of international challenges. The summit's agenda will heavily feature global issues, with leaders from the United States, Canada, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, and Japan expected to convene.

Macron reiterated France and Canada's firm support for Ukraine against the Russian invasion and thanked Canada for its participation in the coalition aiding Kyiv. Regarding the Middle East, he affirmed that diplomacy remains the only viable path to resolving regional conflicts and expressed hope for a swift agreement between the U.S. and Iran. France, he added, is prepared to contribute to implementing such a pact, particularly concerning freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and addressing nuclear, ballistic, and regional stability concerns.

Furthermore, Macron reaffirmed France and Canada's commitment to Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity. He emphasized that lasting peace in the Middle East is unattainable without stabilizing Gaza and implementing a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The French president also addressed the current international climate, characterized by challenges to established rules, economic coercion, foreign interference, and disinformation campaigns, underscoring the imperative for democracies to enhance their collective capacity without resorting to isolationism. Economic and trade issues will also be prominent, with Macron warning against trade tensions that harm global growth and advocating for a rules-based free trade system free from economic coercion.

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Democracies must be lucid, strong, and capable of acting together. We must strengthen our decision-making autonomy, our economic security, our industrial, energy, and technological resilience; in a word, our sovereignty.