As French President heads to US, 'strong relationship' with Donald Trump under test
Emmanuel Macron
Macron will try to sway Trump on key issues from Syria to Iran and trade after a year spent investing a lot of political capital with few returns
French President Emmanuel Macron will arrive in Washington on Monday (April 23) for a three-day visit, where his good rapport with USPresident Donald Trump will be put to the test.
Macron will try to sway Trump on key issues from Syria to Iran and trade after a year spent investing a lot of political capital with few returns.
He played to Trump's admiration for the military and grandeur by inviting him to Paris for the annual July 14 celebrations and dining him at the Eiffel Tower. The soft diplomacy aimed to gain Trump's confidence and influence USforeign policy at a time European diplomats say Washington lacks direction.
French political scientist and international relations expert Bertand Badie said Macron was seeking to take the place of Britain as the United States' privileged ally.
With the exception of one unusually prolonged and firm handshake, Macron has opted for a non-confrontational approach toward the unconventional USpresident, hoping that by engaging with him he could win concessions.
Trump has given the European Union until May 1 to negotiate permanent exemptions from steel and aluminium tariffs and France, Britain and Germany until May 12 to "fix" the Iran nuclear deal with world powers.