Macron, 47, is one of the few leaders who knew Trump during his first term in office, maintaining despite disagreements a cordial relationship, which both describe as “friendship.”
He was the first European leader to visit Trump since his reelection, seeking to persuade him not to abandon Ukraine in pursuit of a peace deal with Russia.
Macron is also a heavyweight of European politics, and shifting U.S. policies gave momentum to his longstanding views.
Since he was first elected in 2017, Macron has pushed for a stronger, more sovereign Europe. That same year, in a sweeping speech at Sorbonne University, he called for a common European defense policy, with increased military cooperation and joint defense initiatives.
He later lamented the “brain death” of the NATO military alliance, insisting the EU should step up and start acting as a strategic world power.