Macron Accuses Trump of Emptying NATO of Its Substance... Rejects Military 'Liberation' of Hormuz

SadaNews - While French President Emmanuel Macron accused his American counterpart Donald Trump on Thursday of emptying the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) of its substance by "planting doubt daily in its commitment" within the alliance, he emphasized that any military operation to "liberate" the Strait of Hormuz would be "unrealistic."

Macron stated during a visit to the South Korean capital: "If we plant doubt every day in our commitment, we empty it of its substance," adding that "this is a responsibility borne today by the American authorities when they say every morning that we will do this and we will not do that or anything else."

He continued: "There is a lot of talk, and a lot of volatility. We all need stability, calm, and a return to peace, this is not a show."

Regarding NATO and the conflict in the Middle East, Macron stressed that "we must be serious, and when we are serious, we do not say every day the opposite of what we said the day before," referring to Trump's positions.

'Liberation of the Strait of Hormuz'

On the subject of the Strait of Hormuz, he said: "There are those who call for the liberation of the Strait of Hormuz by force through a military operation, a position that the United States expresses sometimes."

He affirmed that "this is unrealistic, as it would take an extremely long time, and would expose anyone crossing the Strait to coastal threats from the (Iranian) Revolutionary Guard which possesses significant capabilities, in addition to ballistic missiles and a range of other risks."

The Iranian Nuclear Program

Additionally, Macron confirmed that the war being waged by the United States and Israel against Iran does not resolve the issue of the Iranian nuclear program, calling for "in-depth negotiations," according to the "French Press Agency."

Macron told reporters during a state visit to Seoul: "No limited-target nuclear action, even if it only lasts a few weeks, will provide a permanent solution to the nuclear issue."

He added: "If there is no framework for diplomatic and technical negotiations, the situation may deteriorate again within months or years. Only through in-depth negotiations and reaching an agreement (...) can we ensure long-term follow-up and maintain peace and stability for all."

Inappropriate Remarks

On another note, Macron considered the remarks made by his American counterpart Donald Trump regarding his wife to be "inappropriate and not at the required level," stating that these remarks "do not deserve a response."

Trump had said that "Macron, who is treated very poorly by his wife (...) is still recovering from a strong punch to his jaw," referring to a video from May 2025 that seemed to show Brigitte Macron striking the French president on the face during a trip to Vietnam, which Macron later denied, considering it part of a disinformation campaign.