Emmanuel Macron, the French president, called Monday on European nations to be more independent in airspace defense. He also warned against relying on too much on America. This issue has been a source of division for years and is now even more urgent because of Russia’s conflict in Ukraine.

Macron argued that Europeans should build their own airspace defense strategy, rather than relying upon a system made from American and Israeli components. He was delivering the closing address of a Paris conference gathering 20 European defense ministers.

French organizers noted that the talks covered anti-drone and ballistic missile defence, and pointed out that Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in full scale has demonstrated the importance and effectiveness such equipment. The nuclear weapons deterrence agenda was also included.

“We must know the current threat situation… and then what can we, as Europeans, produce?” Macron asked, “And what then do we need to purchase?”

He advised against buying “what is on the shelf” immediately.

Germany, Sweden, UK, and Ukraine’s neighbours Poland, Slovakia and Hungary were among the nations that attended the meeting. Also in attendance were representatives of NATO and European Union.

Macron called on European manufacturers of defense equipment to develop independent military systems, and to relocate production onto the continent. He also called on European standards to be improved.

Why do we need to buy American so often? “Because Americans have much higher standards than we do, and their federal agencies provide massive subsidies to manufacturers,” he said.

The one-day event took place at the Paris Air Show – the largest aviation and space show in the world, which opened on Monday.

France has openly criticised German-led plans to improve European air defense capability. The European Sky Shield, launched in December last year, includes 17 European countries, including the UK, but not France. The project is meant to integrate into NATO’s air and missile defence systems.

The French government is concerned that the project does not adequately protect European sovereignty because it will be heavily based on US air defense systems and Israeli systems.

The German-led project is expected to include the Israeli Arrow 3 missile system and expand on US Patriot missile capability.

The Arrow 3 long-range system is designed to shoot missiles above Earth’s atmosphere. It has enough power to provide protection for nearby European Union countries.

According to Israeli manufacturer IAI the Arrow 3 system can intercept ballistic missiles fired up to a distance as high as 2,400 km (1,490 mi).

The system has been deployed to an Israeli air base since 2017 in order to protect Israel from attacks by Iran and Syria.

According to documents from the Finance Ministry seen by AFP, the system could cost as much as 3,99 billion euros.

At a press conference held earlier on Monday with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated: “With the European Sky Shield Initiative we bring together European states in order to increase our protection against cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and drones.”

Scholz did not mention Paris’ objections.

The issue of defense has always been a source of tension between France and Germany. For years, France complained that Germany was not spending enough on the subject. But the war in Ukraine prompted Berlin to announce an increase in military spending.

Macron announced Monday that Mamba, the anti-missile defense system developed jointly by France and Italy and deployed in Ukraine to protect key installations and life, is now operational.

Macron stated that “it is Europe who protects Europe.”

The Mamba system forms part of NATO’s integrated air and missile defence.

Ukraine’s air defence systems, with the help of Western weaponry and a growing amount of experience, have made significant progress since the start last year. They have saved infrastructure and lives, and prevented Russia from gaining air superiority.