Emmanuel Macron calls for creation of a ‘real European army’

President Emmanuel Macron of France has called for a "real European army" to defend the continent against Russia, China, and even America.

Mr Macron, who has pushed for a joint EU military force since his election last year, issued the call while on a tour of northern France in the run-up to the centenary of the end of the First World War.

"We will not protect the Europeans unless we decide to have a true European army," Mr Macron said in the interview at Verdun, the scene of France’s most bloody battle.

His call came as he is due to welcome Donald Trump, the US president, and other world leaders, including Theresa May and Russia’s Vladimir Putin to France to commemorate the Armistice centenary…