Macron Warns Against U.S.-China Rivalry in Shangri-La Dialogue Speech

French President Emmanuel Macron voiced deep concern over escalating tensions between the United States and China, warning that the growing rivalry between the two superpowers poses one of the greatest risks to global stability.

Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Macron said that forcing countries to take sides in the U.S.-China competition would unravel the post-World War II international order.

“If we fall into the trap of choosing sides, we will slowly dismantle the global order and destroy the institutions humanity built to preserve peace after World War II,” Macron said during his keynote address, delivered as part of his broader tour of Southeast Asia.

The French president emphasized that while France remains a close ally of the United States, it also seeks to maintain a cooperative relationship with China—despite differences and strategic competition. He called for a global effort to protect existing institutions that help mediate international relations, noting that both Asia and Europe share a stake in preserving global order.

Macron urged the international community to stay united in the face of what he described as efforts by revisionist states to undermine that order—though he stopped short of naming specific countries. He also pushed back against coercive actions targeting resources, minerals, and territorial claims, especially when framed as efforts to defend spheres of influence.

As part of his strategic vision, Macron called for a “new special relationship” between the European Union and countries in the Indo-Pacific, built on mutual trust and shared principles.

In response to the growing uncertainty from U.S.-China trade tensions, Macron underscored the importance of building coalitions among “middle powers”—countries that may not dominate globally but can lead collectively through shared values and interests.

“We do not want to become collateral victims of instability driven by great power rivalry,” Macron said. “Nations capable of working together must pool their resources and act to shape the world we want.”

Macron was joined at the Shangri-La Dialogue by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, as well as other heads of state, diplomats, and senior defense officials. This marks Hegseth’s first appearance at the annual forum, hosted by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).

A delegation from China’s People’s Liberation Army National Defense University is also attending this year’s forum. However, this is the first time since 2019 that China has not sent its defense minister to the event.

This year’s Shangri-La Dialogue is centered on key global and regional security concerns, including rising tensions between Washington and Beijing in the Indo-Pacific, the ongoing war in Ukraine, and emerging security challenges across Asia.

Sources: Reuters, France24, AFP

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