Macron, Who Described NATO as ‘Brain Dead,’ Signals Potential Demise of G20

Emmanuel Macron has a knack for announcing the conclusion of eras.

In 2019, well before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, he declared that NATO was essentially brain dead. Indeed, the post-war military alliance has faced challenges in adapting to new realities.

Now, at the Group of 20 summit in South Africa, which the US — its most significant member — chose to boycott, Macron has donned his prophetic hat once more.

“Gathering for the first time on the African continent represents a critical milestone in the G20’s journey,” Macron stated in his opening comments in Johannesburg. “However, we must also acknowledge that the G20 might be approaching the end of a cycle.”

For emphasis, he noted that the very existence of the bloc is in jeopardy.

His forecast was echoed in the lackluster appearance of the family photo, where the few familiar leaders present seemed sparse against an uninspired backdrop. Typically, the photo’s background should feature something iconic — like Sugarloaf Mountain in Rio de Janeiro or the Raj Ghat memorial in New Delhi.

This year, the effort to bring the leaders together felt lackluster. Last year, Joe Biden arrived late, necessitating a retake of the photo — a foreboding sign of US withdrawal even then. This year could have seen Donald Trump take center stage, smiling with Cyril Ramaphosa. Instead, last year’s Brazilian host, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, took that spot.

Italy’s Giorgia Meloni was absent from the original lineup, with substitutes brought in for seven missing leaders, effectively pushed to the conference hall’s far corner.

Highlighting the disintegration, the French leader mentioned the absence of the US at the discussions, the challenges in upholding humanitarian laws, and the sovereignty issues faced by nations like Ukraine as signs that demand immediate collective re-engagement.

“We are struggling to establish a unified standard on geopolitical crises,” Macron remarked.

The French leader likely reflects on his own political journey, with his presidential term concluding in 2027. He is now the most seasoned statesman of the Group of Seven, which he will host next year, and has often philosophized about the decline of multilateralism.

In the past, to some mockery, he has called for a “true European army,” even prior to the existential threat Vladimir Putin posed to the continent becoming evident. However, France has also faced challenges in aligning its words with actions.

© 2025 Bloomberg

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