Macron To World Leaders: We Are Sliding Into Barbarism In Gaza, Ukraine — Stop The Law Of The Jungle
French President Emmanuel Macron has urged world leaders to resist a return to the “law of the jungle” in international politics, warning that double standards and abuse of power by big empires are threatening global peace.
Macron made the call on Tuesday while delivering his final address as French President at the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
“The question put to us, in very simple terms, is whether we want to live in this state of nature, with a kind of return to the law of the jungle, or in a civilised international society,” Macron told world leaders.
The French leader, who has been in power since 2017, said the world is facing testy times with wars in Gaza and Ukraine, climate crisis and the rise of Artificial Intelligence, AI.
Macron On Ukraine, Gaza
On Ukraine, Macron who met US President Donald Trump on Monday, proposed a moratorium on Russian and Ukrainian strikes on civilian and energy infrastructure.
“We’ve seen the destruction of civilian infrastructure, human rights violations. It’s a new era of barbaric acts,” he said, adding that attacks on commercial shipping in the Black Sea should also stop to allow grain exports and protect food security.
On Gaza, Macron took a swipe at world powers for inaction.
“What is our credibility worth if we remain inactive on Gaza? Some claim that peace has been achieved, but this has not opened up humanitarian deliveries. It is a spectacle that shames us all,” he said.
He also criticised Israeli actions in the West Bank, saying violations happen daily, and claimed that “Hamas has never struck in the West Bank.”
The comment drew sharp rebuke from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, which described it as “grotesque absurdity” and cited the killing of Israeli-French citizen Netanel Shukrun in the West Bank on Sunday by Hamas.
Macron called for sovereignty for Palestinians, Lebanon and Syria, saying those who think Israel’s security depends on violating neighbours’ sovereignty are making a “disastrous mistake.”
He also backed a Franco-Mexican proposal to restrict use of veto power at the UN Security Council in cases of mass atrocities, a move he said now has support of 128 member states.
“Our duty is not to yield. There is no peace without justice,” Macron said.
On Climate, AI And Social Media
Beyond wars, Macron urged countries to defend science and not give in to climate fatalism, and proposed an open-source advanced AI model to reduce global dependence on the US and China — a direct contrast to Trump’s rejection of global AI regulation hours earlier.
“We should not depend on somebody else,” he said.
He also raised alarm over the impact of social media on children, citing declining learning ability, mental health issues and obesity.
“We have waited too long to protect our children and adolescents from social media. Everywhere in our societies, we see the consequences,” he said, adding that the matter will be discussed at the Paris Peace Forum in November.
Macron’s speech comes as world leaders gather in New York amid rising tensions over energy prices, after he pressed Trump on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and a possible energy truce between Russia and Ukraine.
