French President Emmanuel Macron warned China that NATO may be deeper into Asia if Beijing does not take action to prevent North Korea’s involvement in Russia’s war against Ukraine.

“North Korea’s presence in Ukraine is a serious issue for all of us. If China does not want NATO’s involvement in Southeast Asia, then it should prevent North Korea from being involved in European territory, “Macron said on Friday, in a speech at a Singapore Summit.

France has long argued that the transatlantic military alliance should not expand its action in Asia and in 2023 led the effort to block the opening of NATO’s link in Japan.

“I had expressed my opposition to the role of NATO in Asia, because I do not believe in participating in a strategic rivalry that belongs to others,” Emmanuel Macron said, but implying that Paris may review his attitude.

North Korea troops are alleged to have supported the Kremlin War against Ukraine under a military agreement between the two countries, with Moscow using North Korean soldiers to attempt the expulsion of Ukrainian forces from the Kursk region.

The French president’s speech comes to the end of an Asian tour that included visits to Vietnam and Indonesia, where France signed a number of agreements, including in the defense.

His journey ends in Singapore, where he was invited to give the Central Speech at the Annual Shangri-LA Dialogue Strategic Studies Conference, organized by the International Institute of Strategic Studies and gathers leaders and defense ministers from around the world every year. This year’s event was attended by US Secretary of Defense Pitt Hegsez and EU’s High Representative for Foreign Policy, Kaya Kalas.

Macron also warned of the risk of spreading nuclear weapons and the possibility of the collapse of the international order that was founded after World War II.

Repeating the traditional doctrine of French diplomacy, he called on Asian states to maintain their “independence” both from the United States and China.

“France is committed to strategic autonomy, freedom and sovereignty. We are defending this approach to both Europe and Indo-Pacific, “Macron said.

US-China confrontation is the greatest danger to the world

Macron also said that the confrontation between the two superpowers, the United States and China, is the main danger with which people are facing today, emphasizing the need to create new alliances between France and partners in the Indo-Pacific region.

Macron pays a visit to the region as France and the European Union seek to strengthen their trade ties with Asia in order to offset the uncertainty caused by US President Donald Trump’s tariff policy.

“I will be clear: France is a friend and ally of the United States and is also a friend and we work together-even if we disagree or compete sometimes-with China,” the French president said during his speech at Shangri-La Dialogue, the top-notch forum for the Asian Defense.

Macron emphasized that Asia and Europe have a common interest in preventing the dissolution of the world order.

“The era of non -alignment is undoubtedly over, but the era of ‘action alliances’ has arrived. And this requires countries that can act together to be equipped with all the means to do it, “he said.

Macron’s visit has been following similar leaders’ moves from China, Japan and other European countries in recent weeks, in a sign of the strategic importance of Southeast Asia amidst world turmoil in supply chains and trade.