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The French president Emmanuel Macron received this saturday Donald Trump in Paris, during a meeting during which he tried to ease tensions over the delicate issue of European defense, after the US president had deemed "insulting" the French proposal to create an army European.
Trump is in the French capital for the commemoration of the end of the First World War, which will be attended by about 70 leaders around the world this Sunday.
A controversial tweet that Trump has just landed in Paris Friday night laid the foundation for the imbalance. "French President Macron has just proposed that Europe build its own army to protect itself from the United States, China and Russia, very insulting, but maybe Europe should be First, it pays its fair share of NATO, which the US subsidizes enormously! "He writes.
Trump seemed to refer in this tweet to the statements made this week by Macron in which he advocated a "real European army" to better protect Europe.
Greetings French President Emmanuel Macron greets the first American woman Melania Trump, while Donald Trump does the same with Brigitte Macron, this Saturday at the Elysee Palace in Paris. / EFE
In an attempt to end the controversy, the two leaders gathered this Saturday they emphasized their close relationships. "We have become very good friends" over time, said Trump, who was less enthusiastic about Macron than other opportunities.
"We need to better distribute the burden within NATO," said the French leader at the beginning of the meeting. Trump said "appreciate" these words, although he insisted on Calls for Europeans to increase military spending.
"We want to help Europe," said the White House tenant, adding that the contribution must be "fair". "Until now, the burden has decreased significantly in the United States," he said, his face contracting visibly.
Trump, who has barely reacted to the many slaps his French counterpart has inflicted on his back and legs, has opted for a soothing speech, although his gestures indicate the opposite.
"We've become very good friends over the past two years and we have a lot of things in common, maybe more than people think (…) I appreciate what it's written on Sharing burdens (military) We want a strong Europe, it's very important for us, "he said.
Moment French President, Emmanuel Macron, and his American couple, Donald Trump, at their meeting this Saturday at the Elysee, in Paris. / AP
Macron does not hide that his plans for greater European integration go through the creation of a common army, which allows the continent to emancipate from the US military tutelage. "We need more investment," remarked the presenter, although he did not directly mention the issue of creating a European army causing the Trump's fury.
On Saturday morning, the French presidency said that Macron "never said that a European army should be created against the United States" and attributed it to a "confusion" in the US. interpretation of his remarks.
Much of Europe has been protected by the US shield since the end of the Second World War, without paying a fair price in Trump's eyes. Macron has always defended the strengthening of Europe in defense matters.
It's just an example of the deep political disagreements between the two leaders, on issues such as the environment, the Iranian nuclear program, trade relations and, in general, global governance, for which Macron defends multilateralism, which Trump seems to despise.
After the meeting, the first American, Melania Trump, arrived at the Elysee, where she was received by Brigitte Macron. The four planned a lunch together.
The White House announced the cancellation of Trump's visit to the North American Wood Belleau cemetery, north of Paris, scheduled in the afternoon due to bad weather.
Macron had planned to go after the meeting with Trump in a region near Compiegne, north of Paris, a ceremony with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
It was where it was signed on November 11, 1918, in the wagon of a train, the armistice that sealed the end of the First World War, after years of fighting that resulted in 18 million deaths.
Sunday morning, a grand ceremony will be held at the Arc de Triomf in the presence of several dozen heads of state and government, who will be the organ point of commemorations.
Among the foreign leaders include the President of Colombia, Iván Duque, and his Costa Rican counterpart, Carlos Alvarado, King Felipe VI of Spain and the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez.
Sunday morning, a grand ceremony will be held at the Arc de Triomf in the presence of several dozen heads of state and government, who will be the organ point of commemorations.
Macron on Sunday organized a major forum for peace, which will serve as a platform to defend multilateralism. Trump will not attend the forum and will visit the American cemetery of Suresnes, near Paris.
Source: agencies
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