French President Emmanuel Macron at a business forum in Seoul, April 3, 2026. AHN YOUNG-JOON / AP
The pale wood-paneled walls of the large conference room in the deeply conservative Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) rarely hear jokes about the United States. "Our American friends have given me an unprecedented selling point, so I'm using it: We are predictable," French President Emmanuel Macron quipped on Friday, April 3, before a group of business leaders, including those from Samsung and Hyundai.
The French president was referring to the "unpredictability" of his American counterpart, Donald Trump, which has led him to argue for greater distance from the world's major powers. Macron made that case throughout his visit to Japan and South Korea from March 31 to April 3. The trip was planned ahead of the G7 summit in June in Evian, France, which will be attended by Japan as a full member and South Korea as a member of the G20.
Even if he did not fully convince his counterparts – who maintain strong ties with the US – Macron's words resonated in the turbulent context of the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, which cast a shadow over both business prospects and diplomatic alliances.
