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French President Emmanuel Macron has warned global leaders that international order is fraying, as tensions deepen with the United States over Greenland, tariffs and the future of trade rules. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Macron said the world was drifting toward instability, where power overrides law and economic pressure replaces cooperation.
His comments came as US President Donald Trump marked the first anniversary of his second term by defending sweeping tariff policies and reiterating his insistence that US control of Greenland is vital for national and global security. Trump has argued there is "no going back" on the plan and has threatened new trade penalties against countries that oppose it. Macron did not name Trump directly, but his message was unmistakable. He warned that an endless build-up of tariffs was fundamentally unacceptable, particularly when used as leverage against territorial sovereignty. The French leader urged Europe to be ready to deploy all available tools to defend its interests, warning that conflict and imbalance were becoming normalised in global affairs.
Trade tensions escalated further after Trump claimed tariffs had protected American jobs, citing a Michigan car plant he said was saved from closure. The US president also acknowledged legal uncertainty surrounding the measures, as courts prepare to rule on their legality. Beyond trade, immigration featured heavily in Trump's White House remarks. He argued his policies were delivering results, even as protests and clashes involving immigration officers have drawn criticism and fuelled political backlash.
Relations between Paris and Washington were further strained after Trump published private messages from Macron expressing confusion over the Greenland proposal and offering talks with allies. The disclosures prompted sharp reactions in France, where officials criticised the use of tariffs as coercive diplomacy.
Macron later confirmed he did not plan to meet Trump in Davos, despite suggesting a broader summit in the coming days. With the European Parliament considering suspending progress on a US trade deal, the standoff highlights a widening divide between allies, and a growing fear in Europe that the rules-based order is being replaced by raw power politics.
