During a visit to Japan, French President Emmanuel Macron lauded Europe's "predictability," highlighting it in comparison to nations that "can harm you without notifying you," seemingly referring to US President Donald Trump.
The US president criticized France on Tuesday, posting on social media that Paris had been "extremely uncooperative" during the conflict with Iran, which has now expanded throughout the Middle East.
"Macron informed a group of Japanese business leaders and investors in Tokyo that he is fully conscious of the perception that Europe may appear to be slower than other continents."
"However, predictability is valuable, and we have proven that throughout the years and, if I may say, even in recent weeks: we are at the point you expect us to be," he noted.
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Macron condemned nations claiming they were "moving much faster" than their partners, but "you can't predict if the day after tomorrow they'll maintain that stance, and if tomorrow they'll make a choice that might harm you without prior notice."
The comment alluded to the month-long US-Israeli conflict with Iran, which has reacted by nearly shutting down the crucial Strait of Hormuz, a key route for a significant portion of oil typically imported by Japan.
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Macron's office had shown astonishment at Trump's admonishment of France for not permitting planes carrying military supplies for the conflict to fly over its land.
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"It is completely accurate that France, which has not been involved and is not part of this military action initiated by the U.S. and Israel, is not participating," Macron stated in an interview with Japanese broadcaster NHK, noting that this has been France's position since "the very beginning" of the war
Macron met with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Tokyo and spoke of their cooperation in the face of the "current energy crisis."