Macron lauds Europe's predictability, signs Japan deal
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- Macron praised Europe's "predictability" in Tokyo, contrasting it with countries that could hurt you without warning.
- Trump had recently called France "very unhelpful" in the war with Iran, prompting Macron's apparent swipe.
- France has refused to let planes carrying military supplies for the US‑Israeli war on Iran overfly its territory, maintaining a stance of non‑participation.
- Macron met Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, emphasizing cooperation amid the current energy crisis and the need for safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
- Takaichi and Macron signed a roadmap on access to critical minerals and a separate roadmap on defense cooperation.
- Japan depends on the Middle East for 95% of its oil imports and has tapped strategic stockpiles to cushion rising fuel prices since the conflict began.
Why it matters: Japan and Europe secure tighter supply‑chain and defence links, reducing reliance on volatile Middle‑East oil and counterbalancing US actions that Macron says can be unpredictable, thereby strengthening their strategic partnership and giving Japan a reliable European ally as oil prices surge.
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