"So maybe we needed a wake-up call to continue and I am pretty glad about it, that it was the case," Macron told a press conference, regarding his comment.
In his interview with the Economist in early November, Macron said that European countries could no longer rely on the United States to defend North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) allies, adding that "what we are currently experiencing is the brain death of NATO".
The statement made has led to a flurry of responses from allies defending NATO.
German chancellor Angela Merkel, as well as NATO’s Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, ripped Macron for his "drastic words" and argued that NATO remained a key pillar of Germany's security.
He remarked, however, that he stood by his statement.
According to Macron, Europe will not be able to perform its role if it does not face the threat of major powers, does not act with even greater responsibility to its own defence and security, and accepts a secondary role on the world stage.
