French President Emmanuel Macron called on Indo-Pacific nations to establish a "new coalition" to counter the "constraints and side effects" stemming from the growing U.S.-China rivalry. Macron's speech came as the European leader sought to play up the country as a counterweight to the two superpowers.

France’s president called for a new partnership between European and Asian nations to protect the rules-based international order and avoid being ‘collateral victims’ of the two superpowers.

Invited to deliver the keynote speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue, a defense and security forum for Asia, the French president condemned the 'whims' and 'greed' of the two great powers, once again advocating for a 'third way.