Macron aims for Europe to take control of security

French president Emmanuel Macron is pushing for a continentwide effort to create a strategic defence partnership that eases Europe’s reliance on the US for security services.

Mrmacronwantseurope to take responsibility for its own defence.

Speaking during a visit to Finland, Mr Macron said “our interest with Turkey as well as with Russia is to have a strategic partnership which enables to stabilise the relationship with the European Union in the long term”.

He added “we must bring up to date our relationship with Russia further to the end of the Cold War”, saying old habits had led to “mistakes or misunderstanding”.

The French president has discussed the move in St Petersburg with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.