French President Emmanuel Macron warned Thursday that Europe faces possible demise if it does not take bold action to tackle U.S. and Chinese protectionism, amid serious geopolitical threats from authoritarian regimes.
In a bleak and solemn speech delivered at the Sorbonne University in Paris that frequently returned to the theme of a fast-changing global order, Macron evoked the death of Europe as a real possibility.
The Continent under-invests in innovation, fails to protect its industries and boost its military and defenses, he said.
“Europe is mortal, it can die. It only depends on our choices," he said in a highly-anticipated speech that echoed a landmark discourse he gave there months into his first term in 2017. “And these choices have to be made now.”
He’s not wrong.
The US is closing the door on foreign tech by adding new KYC laws to prevent foreign countries from training AI. The obvious end game is General AI that automates most jobs with all revenue going to the US.
France is notable one of the only countries with a strong counter AI strategy.
If Trump wins the geopolitical threat to NATO is massive. His statement he’d extort NATO countries for protection money is an existential threat on its own.
The future being a continuation of the last 80 years is very far from a given.