“Autonomy” is a dirty word for U.S. leaders when other countries start using it. From Finian Cunningham at strategic-culture.org:
Despite his geopolitical impotence and reliable vassalage, the American fury at Macron’s comments is instructive.
French President Emmanuel Macron has got the Americans in a flap with his comments advocating greater European strategic autonomy and for the old continent to avoid becoming embroiled in a U.S.-China confrontation over Taiwan.
Macron made his remarks while traveling back from China where he appeared to have been well received by President Xi Jinping. The trip reportedly garnered several lucrative trade deals for French businesses at a time when Élysée Palace is assailed with nationwide public protests and strikes over economic woes.
The American chagrin over Macron’s musings about European strategic autonomy is revealing in at least two ways.
The New York Times sniffily accused Macron of playing the “Gaullist card” while the Wall Street Journal censured the French leader for “blundering on Taiwan”, adding, “He weakens deterrence against Chinese aggression and undermines U.S. support for Europe”.
STRAIGHT LINE LOGIC 