‘You Have A Call': Macron's Quirky Rafale Post Urges Europe To Rethink US Jet Dependence
Last Updated:
Emmanuel Macron has been a consistent advocate for strengthening European defence independence.
In a message to European allies, French President Emmanuel Macron took to social media with a quirky post promoting France's Rafale fighter jet. Posted on X (formerly Twitter), the image featured a Rafale jet styled like an incoming call on a smartphone. The on-screen message read, 'Secure our Europe" while the caption teased, 'European friends, you have a call."
The post is being widely seen as a call for Europe to reduce its reliance on US-made fighter jets like the F-35 and instead embrace European-made defense systems.
European friends, you have a call. pic.twitter.com/VY7gmqPUKZ — Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) June 20, 2025
Emmanuel Macron has been a consistent advocate for strengthening European defence independence. He said earlier this year, 'We must offer European alternatives to countries accustomed to American equipment. Scaling up production of these systems will lower costs and create a self-sustaining defence network across Europe."
France's Rafale, a 4.5-generation multi-role fighter developed by Dassault Aviation, is already in use by several countries including India and Egypt. But in recent years, many European nations- including Poland and Finland- have opted for the US-made F-35, a fifth-generation stealth jet from Lockheed Martin.
First Published:
June 20, 2025, 20:19 IST
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Gazette
39 minutes ago
- India Gazette
Ex-RAW boss AS Dulat praises Asim Munir meet with Trump, says meet PM Modi next
London [UK], June 20 (ANI): Amarjit Singh Dulat, Former Chief of India's premier intelligence agency- the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW)- has praised Pakistan's COAS Asim Munir for his meeting with US President Donald Trump and has called for Munir to come to India and meet PM Modi to thaw ties. Dulat made the remarks in an exclusive interview with Geo News at King's College, during a discussion on his newly published book The Chief Minister and the Spy. Dulat recalled how Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Pakistan to attend the wedding of Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif's granddaughter, and said that Pakistan must also try their hand at thawing the frozen ties, reported The News International quoting the interview with Geo. Dulat said: 'I congratulate Field Marshal Asim Munir. Congratulations to the people of Pakistan. He should now come and meet Modi Ji in Hyderabad House and then may visit Amritsar. I believe that hardlines can be softened. In 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Pakistan to attend the wedding of Nawaz Sharif's granddaughter. Things can and should improve. Someone needs to bowl first. Imran Khan is in jail. The Field Marshal or Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif can do that.' Dulat agreed that relations are frozen between India and Pakistan, especially after the recent conflict but he was hopeful of a change, saying that if the meeting between Pakistan Field Marshal Asim Munir and US President Donald Trump can take place, so even he could visit Delhi, as reported by Geo News. 'Look at the Field Marshal's lunch in the US. Whoever arranged it, send him to Delhi too. If it can happen in Washington, why not in Delhi,' he told Geo News He said that the Field Marshal's luncheon at the Cabinet Room and the Oval visit, lasting over two hours, was a major development in the US-Pakistan relations. He said, 'This has happened for the first time. It's good and huge for Pakistan. I congratulate Pakistan but don't stop there, come to India too.' Dulat told Geo News that India has good relations with the US. He said, 'Pakistan has always progressed in these relations, that's why the Field Marshal is there.' The former RAW chief advised both countries to talk directly to each other. He said there should be no war between India and Pakistan. 'It's good that the recent conflict lasted for only four days.' He also praised Pakistan's hospitality. 'I am the only intelligence chief who visited Pakistan four times after retirement. Between 2010-2012 I visited four times. Pakistani hospitality cannot be matched. We cannot match it. I enjoyed it a lot,' he said to Geo News. Dulat spoke about his friendship with former ISI chief General Asad Durrani and described him as a great friend. Munir, during the meeting, lauded Trump for his 'constructive and result-oriented role' in facilitating a ceasefire with India following last month's armed conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. India conducted Operation Sindoor on May 7 following April 22 Pahalgam terror attacks where 26 tourists were killed. The Operation was focused strikes on terrorists and terrorist infrastructure at nine sites in Pakistan and PoJK. It was India's 'measured, non-escalatory' action. (ANI)
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
'$12 billion a month': The cost of Israel's daily strikes and defence against Iran - war at a premium
Israel is spending hundreds of millions of dollars each day in its escalating conflict with Iran, with the cost of interceptors, munitions, air operations, and infrastructure damage mounting rapidly, according to The Wall Street Journal. The daily military expenditure could run as high as $200 million just for missile interceptions, with broader operational costs and infrastructure damage driving that figure significantly higher. Experts estimate that rebuilding damage caused by Iranian missile strikes could alone cost Israel at least $400 million. Former Bank of Israel governor Karnit Flug warned that while the economy may absorb the costs of a short conflict, a prolonged war could be far more damaging. 'If it is a week, it is one thing,' she said. 'If it is two weeks or a month, it is a very different story.' The financial toll is being driven in large part by the heavy use of Israel's air defence systems. The David's Sling system, used to intercept short- and long-range threats, costs around $700,000 per activation when firing its minimum of two interceptors. The Arrow 3 system, designed to stop long-range ballistic missiles, costs around $4 million per interception, while Arrow 2 costs approximately $3 million, according to military analyst Yehoshua Kalisky. The conflict has seen more than 400 Iranian missiles fired at Israel in recent days, most of which required interception. The cost of deploying fighter jets—particularly F-35s—adds further pressure. Each hour of flight costs around $10,000 per aircraft. The cost of fuel, munitions like JDAMs and MK84s, and logistics for long-range missions all contribute to Israel's spiralling war bill. Zvi Eckstein, head of the Aaron Institute for Economic Policy, noted that 'per day, it is much more expensive than the war in Gaza or with Hezbollah,' citing the overwhelming burden of ammunition and interceptor usage. His institute estimates that a one-month war with Iran could cost Israel around $12 billion. Despite the sharp military spending, Israel's economy has not entered recession. However, disruptions are widespread. Civilian life has slowed, with many businesses—including restaurants—closed, and only essential workers reporting to duty. The country's main international airport was shut for several days before partially reopening for return flights. On Monday, S&P Global released a risk assessment of the Israel-Iran conflict but left Israel's credit outlook unchanged. Surprisingly, Israeli stock markets rose on Wednesday, with investors betting on the resilience of the economy and a possible swift end to the hostilities. Economists point to Israel's past ability to weather prolonged conflicts, including the 20-month war in Gaza. However, the destruction inflicted by Iranian missile attacks is severe. Structural engineer Eyal Shalev said the damage caused by large ballistic missiles is worse than anything seen in recent conflicts. Hundreds of buildings have been destroyed or heavily damaged, with repair costs expected to run into the hundreds of millions. Meanwhile, Ynet News also reported that Brigadier General (res.) Re'em Aminach, a former senior defence official and IDF financial consultant, estimated that Israel spent about $1.45 billion during the initial two days of combat. Of this, around $593 million went toward offensive operations, such as airstrikes and flight hours, and the rest to defensive measures like missile interception and reservist mobilisation. 'These are direct costs only,' Aminach said. 'The indirect costs — including impact on GDP — cannot be measured at this stage.' The finance ministry has already lowered its GDP growth forecast for 2025 from 4.3% to 3.6% and warned that the existing emergency reserve, mostly depleted by the war in Gaza, does not account for a concurrent conflict with Iran. Israel's deficit ceiling for the year is 4.9% of GDP, or roughly $27.6 billion, which could now be under pressure as the war drags on.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
an hour ago
- First Post
‘We will not stop': Israel tells UN Security Council it will press on until Iran's nuclear threat is eliminated
'We will not stop. Not until Iran's nuclear threat is dismantled, not until its war machine is disarmed, not until our people and yours are safe,' said Israeli UN Ambassador Danny Danon during a UN Security Council session on Friday read more Israel's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Danny Danon speaks during a meeting of the United Nations Security Council, about the conflict between Israel and Iran, at UN headquarters in New York City, US., on Friday. Reuters Israel on Friday made it amply clear that strikes against Iran would continue until its nuclear threat is eliminated, even as Iran asserted its right to defend itself against Israel. 'We will not stop,' Reuters quoted Israeli UN Ambassador Danny Danon as saying during a UN Security Council session on Friday. 'Not until Iran's nuclear threat is dismantled, not until its war machine is disarmed, not until our people and yours are safe,' Danon added. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Iran's UN Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani urged the Security Council to take action. 'Israel apparently declared that it will continue this strike for as many days as it takes. We are alarmed by credible report that the United States… may be joining this war,' he was quoted as saying. A week into their conflict, Israel and Iran exchanged strikes again on Friday as President Donald Trump delayed a decision on joining the fight and European ministers raced to revive diplomacy in Geneva. Trump said he would wait two weeks before deciding on US military involvement, which could include strikes on Iran's fortified Fordo nuclear site using 'bunker-buster' bombs. Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had vowed that operations would continue 'for as long as it takes' to eliminate the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, en route to Geneva, ruled out talks with the US while Israeli attacks persisted. 'It is the Americans who want talks,' AP quoted him as saying on state TV. 'They've sent messages several times — very serious ones — but we made it explicitly clear to them that as long as this aggression and invasion continue, there is absolutely no room for talk or diplomacy,' Araghchi added. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Israeli jets struck multiple military targets in Iran on Friday, including missile production sites. Ahead of the Geneva talks, French President Emmanuel Macron said European envoys would present Iran with a 'comprehensive, diplomatic and technical offer of negotiation.' 'We need to regain control on (Iran's nuclear) program through technical expertise and negotiation," AP quoted him as saying. Under the 2015 nuclear deal, Iran agreed to cap uranium enrichment and allow international inspections in exchange for sanctions relief. But after President Trump withdrew the US from the pact, Iran ramped up enrichment to 60%, just below weapons-grade, and curbed inspector access. Despite ongoing Geneva talks, Iran continued striking Israel on Friday. Missiles hit the northern city of Haifa, injuring at least 19 and sending smoke over the port. The Israel-Iran war, which began on June 13 with Israeli strikes on nuclear and military sites, has killed at least 657 people in Iran, including 263 civilians, and wounded over 2,000, according to a Washington-based Iranian rights group. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In response, Iran has launched 450 missiles and 1,000 drones at Israel. Most were intercepted, but at least 24 Israelis have died and hundreds more have been injured, according to the Israeli military. With inputs from agencies
