Macron Shamelessly Promotes Disgraced Rafale Jets

ISLAMABAD: French President Emmanuel Macron stirred controversy on Friday by posting a photo of a French-made Rafale fighter jet on X (formerly Twitter). The French President tweeted the picture of the fighter jet to promote its sale among European nations.

Macron urged Europe to strengthen its military capabilities and reduce reliance on the United States. He creatively invited European nations to consider purchasing Rafale fighters, framing the offer as a call to action with the phrase “Secure Europe” in the response space.

However, the post quickly attracted criticism from netizens, who reminded him of the earlier skirmish in which the Pakistan Air Force shot down Rafale jets using Chinese-made J-10 fighters, leaving India humiliated.

Here are a few online reactions to French President Macron’s “clever” tweet:

During the recent conflict between India and Pakistan in May 2025, the performance of the French-made Rafale fighter jets came under scrutiny. The Rafale jets, despite their advanced capabilities, struggled against the PAF’s use of Chinese-made J-10 fighters and advanced missiles. The stock prices of Dassault Aviation, the manufacturer of the Rafale fighter jets, also experienced a significant decline.

Read more: Rafale Wreckage vs. CEO’s Denial: An Analysis of the Cover-Up