French President Emmanuel Macron is back at the center of global diplomacy, seeking to ease relations with President Donald Trump, championing a Ukraine peace plan alongside his British counterpart, and seeing his longstanding desire to boost European defense turning into reality.

French President Emmanuel Macron has called on the European Union to boost its NATO spending to “prepare for what comes next” — as concerns mount over whether the US can still be counted as an ally against Russia.

European Union leaders on Friday downplayed skepticism from U.S. President Donald Trump about solidarity among NATO members.

As EU capitals line up behind the message that Europe must guarantee its own security, French President Emmanuel Macron could be forgiven for thinking... It is a message Macron has repeatedly drummed home since coming to power in 2017: Europe must be more self-sufficient on defence and break free from dependence on the United States.

President Trump expressed uncertainty that NATO would come to the United States’ defense if the country were attacked, though the alliance did just that after Sept. 11.

As geopolitical uncertainties cast doubt over the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) future, particularly in light of a second Trump presidency, France is asserting itself as the primary architect of European strategic autonomy.