French President Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed his commitment to nuclear energy on Monday at the World Summit on Artificial Intelligence in Paris. In a speech directed at investors, he emphasized the advantage of readily available low-carbon electricity in France, in contrast to Donald Trump’s energy policies, which aim to ramp up oil drilling in the United States.
A direct response to Trump’s energy program
Since returning to the White House, Donald Trump has signed an executive order declaring an “energy emergency” to boost domestic hydrocarbon production. He has reiterated his commitment to a massive expansion of oil and gas drilling, reviving his well-known campaign slogan: “We will drill, baby, drill.”
In response to this strategy, Emmanuel Macron took a provocative tone, telling investors: “Here, there is no need to drill. Just plug, baby, plug.” This message was intended to illustrate the accessibility of electricity in France, thanks to a well-developed nuclear network that powers the computing infrastructure essential to artificial intelligence.
Nuclear energy as an economic and strategic asset
During his address, Emmanuel Macron stressed that France has “available low-carbon energy,” a key advantage for data centers and high-tech industries that require stable electrical power. By highlighting energy security and the competitive cost of electricity in France, he aims to enhance the country’s attractiveness to digital companies and international investors.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump is betting on increased oil and gas production to refill U.S. strategic reserves and lower energy costs for consumers. The United States, already the world’s largest oil producer, also seeks to export energy on a massive scale to strengthen its influence in global markets.
A global impact of divergent energy strategies
The contrast in energy policies between the United States and France reflects the strategic choices of major global powers regarding their energy supply. While Washington moves towards greater exploitation of hydrocarbons, Paris defends a model based on nuclear energy to ensure energy independence and support the growth of advanced technologies.
As electricity demand surges with the rise of artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure, the decisions made today will have significant implications for global market balance and investment trends in the years to come.
