French President Francois Hollande delivers a speech as he attends the inauguration of the new 'Sud Europe Atlantique' (South Europe Atlantic) high-speed rail line, linking Tours and Bordeaux, on February 28, 2017, in Villognon, central France. Yohan Bonnet | AFP | Getty ImagesFormer French President François Hollande underlined the importance of Europe sticking together in the face of U.S. protectionism on issues like security and trade. This would come at a time when traditional economic powerhouse Germany is dealing with an economic malaise and a political vacuum after its coalition government collapsed. "This is what France, Germany, Poland and the United Kingdom, the four main countries that invest in defense, will do. If these four countries react together, both in relation to the security issue, the Ukraine issue and even the trade issue, then Europe will be respected.

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Persons: Francois Hollande, Yohan Bonnet, François Hollande, Donald Trump's, Hollande, CNBC's Charlotte Reed, Trump, Donald Trump Organizations: Europe, Europe Atlantic, AFP, Getty, Former, European Union Locations: Europe, Tours, Bordeaux, Villognon, France, U.S, Germany, Ukraine, Poland, United Kingdom