French President Emmanuel Macron warned on Monday that the billions of euros of taxpayer money spent on Europe's military budgets should not be used to buy only American weapons, pushing for more investment in home-grown defence industries.

The leaders of France and Germany called for a united and resilient Europe during their meeting in Paris. Marking the Elysée Treaty anniversary, they pledged to strengthen European independence amid global challenges.

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke in Paris of the challenge posed by US President Donald Trump. View on euronews

French President Emmanuel Macron has called on Europe to “wake up” and spend more on defense, in a speech to the French military as Donald Trump returns to power.

After new US administration took office on Monday, French president says France, Germany must 'play roles to reinforce united, strong, sovereign Europe' - Anadolu Ajansı

The French President called on Europe to spend more on defence to reduce their reliance on the United States for security.

Macron made the remarks at a joint news conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Paris, adding that it was important to support the automobile, steel, chemical sectors, among others.

Emmanuel Macron gave a speech to the French armed forces in the face of an 'acceleration' of threats which, in his view, requires Europe to 'spend more on defense.'

For French Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu, European capitals took a “serious kick in the butt” during Donald Trump's inauguration speech. “Perhaps the brutality of the (US) president's words can finally lead to a shock and an awakening” in Europe,