Paris:French MEP and presidential candidate Raphael Glucksmann has accused US President Donald Trump of being either a "useful idiot" or an agent undermining Europe's strength and freedom. Glucksmann made these remarks at POLITICO's Competitiveness Summit, where he expressed concerns over Trump's decision to relax restrictions on Russian diesel exports amidst the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which Glucksmann believes directly targets European interests.

According to Anadolu Agency, Glucksmann also emphasized the need for bolstered European defense capabilities and stronger joint investment among European nations. He warned against the potential rise of far-right leader Marine Le Pen to the presidency in 2027, suggesting that it could pose further risks to European stability.

In related discussions, former French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe highlighted the importance of increasing European investment in artificial intelligence (AI) to avoid falling behind the US and China, which he stated could undermine European sovereignty. Philippe called for the mobilization of European savings to support digital companies, such as the French AI startup Mistral, and criticized German search engine Ecosia's switch to Chinese models.

French politician Bruno Retailleau also voiced his concerns about Europe's trade and regulatory policies, claiming that they create unfair competition and excessive regulation that weaken France's industrial base. Retailleau advocated for a technology-neutral approach to the EU's 2035 vehicle targets to provide manufacturers with more flexibility and called for enhanced support to help small and medium-sized businesses adopt robotics and AI technologies.