FRENCH President Emmanuel Macron claimed yesterday that Europe “could die” if it fails to build up its military strength amid the Russia-Ukraine war or make massive trade and economic reforms to compete with China and the United States.

In a nearly two-hour speech in Paris, Mr Macron asserted that the continent is “too slow and lacks ambition,” saying that the European Union must become a superpower, defend its own borders and speak with one voice if it wants to survive and thrive.

“Our Europe today is mortal,” the French president said. “It can die and that depends solely on our choices.”

Moscow’s aggression in Ukraine is an existential threat and Europe is not armed enough to defend itself when “confronted by a power like Russia that has no inhibitions, no limits,” Mr Macron said, insisting: “Russia mustn’t be allowed to win.”

Referring to China and the US, Mr Macron said “the two world powers have decided not to respect the rules of global trade” by shoring up protections and subsides while Europe’s industry remains open and strongly regulated.

“Let’s do the same; we are in competition,” he urged.

In Poland, Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski called on Nato to increase its military readiness and said his government wanted to be at the centre of EU decision-making.