Angela Merkel echoes Emmanuel Macron by calling for the formation of a 'real, true' European army

German Chancellor Angela Merkel called for the formation of a "real, true" European army during a speech to European Union ministers on Tuesday, lending support to the suggestion made by French President Emmanuel Macron last week.

What are the details?

Speaking on the future of the E.U., Merkel told her audience, "What is really important, if we look at the developments of the past year, is that we have to work on a vision of one day creating a real, true European army."

According to the Daily Mail, Merkel said the new army would work with NATO, but suggested that "only a stronger Europe is going to defend Europe."

"Europe must take our fate into our own hands if we want to protect our community," she added.

Merkel's remarks echoed those of Macron's last week, when he reportedly told Europe 1-TV (in a translation provided by the Mail):

I believe in the project of a sovereign Europe. We won't protect Europe if we don't decide to have a true European army.

We have to have a Europe that can defend itself alone — and without only relying on the United States in a more sovereign manner.

We should protect ourselves when it comes to China, Russia and even the United States of America.

The Independent reported that while Macron was speaking ahead of a World War I commemoration on the battlefield of Verdun on Sunday, he said, "When I see President Trump announcing that he's quitting a major disarmament treaty which was formed after the 1980s euro-missile crisis that hit Europe, who is the main victim? Europe and its security."

How did President Trump respond?

President Trump responded to Macron's remarks on Friday on Twitter, saying the French president's suggestion to form a European army to guard against the U.S. "very insulting," and calling upon Europe to "first pay its fair share of NATO."

President Macron of France has just suggested that Europe build its own military in order to protect itself from the U.S., China and Russia. Very insulting, but perhaps Europe should first pay its fair share of NATO, which the U.S. subsidizes greatly!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 9, 2018

On Tuesday, President Trump lobbed a rapid-fire series of tweets responding to France and its leader, who warned against nationalism in a speech on Sunday.

Emmanuel Macron suggests building its own army to protect Europe against the U.S., China and Russia. But it was Germany in World Wars One & Two - How did that work out for France? They were starting to learn German in Paris before the U.S. came along. Pay for NATO or not!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 13, 2018

On Trade, France makes excellent wine, but so does the U.S. The problem is that France makes it very hard for the U.S. to sell its wines into France, and charges big Tariffs, whereas the U.S. makes it easy for French wines, and charges very small Tariffs. Not fair, must change!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 13, 2018

The problem is that Emmanuel suffers from a very low Approval Rating in France, 26%, and an unemployment rate of almost 10%. He was just trying to get onto another subject. By the way, there is no country more Nationalist than France, very proud people-and rightfully so!........

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 13, 2018

......MAKE FRANCE GREAT AGAIN!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 13, 2018