Paris - France's president has not given
Donald Trump an easy ride: a crunching handshake at one meeting
was followed by a body swerve at another and then a public
rebuke over his attitude to climate change. But now there seems
to be an olive branch from Paris.
The US leader said on Wednesday he had accepted an
invitation from Emmanuel Macron to celebrate July 14 Bastille
Day celebrations and 100 years since the US troops entered
into World War One.
Trump will likely revel in a ceremony laden with pageantry
and military pomp, with U.S. soldiers marching down the Champs
Elysees boulevard beside French servicemen - a welcome respite
from his domestic woes.
For Macron, 39, it is an opportunity to use soft diplomacy
to win Trump's confidence as he tries to establish himself as a
leading global statesman at a time when decision-making in the
White House has become increasingly unpredictable.
"We don't want the United States to isolate themselves," a
Macron aide said recently. "That's what diplomacy is for. It's
not to let people sulk in their corner."
In the space of six weeks, France's youngest leader since
Napoleon, will have hosted Russian President Vladimir Putin in
Versailles and Trump on Paris' most iconic avenue.
Macron flattered Putin in May with a meeting at the
sumptuous palace of France's former monarchy, built outside
Paris by Louis XIV - the 'Sun King' - to symbolise absolute
power. Even so, Macron pulled no punches, accusing Russian state
media of "lying propaganda" during his French election campaign.
A French diplomat indicated there would be frank exchanges
with Trump too after Macron took a dig in English at Trump's
withdrawal from the Paris climate accord when he urged U.S.
citizens to help "make this planet great again".
"On climate change it's complicated," the diplomat said.
"But the rest is sufficiently important for him to make this
historic trip on July 14."
"France is no longer France"
Macron appears to be broadly aligning his foreign policy
with U.S. priorities of tackling terrorism while seeking better
ties with Russia. The battle against Islamic State, Syria's
civil war and Iran's nuclear accord are likely talking points.
Privately, some French diplomats have lamented the lack of a
clear U.S. policy on the long-term political process in Syria
and say even setting up a meeting between the French and US foreign ministers is tough.
A White House statement said the two leaders would "further
build on the strong counter-terrorism cooperation and economic
partnership between the two countries".
Past words may haunt Trump. It will be his first visit since
he declared that a wave of militant attacks showed France was
soft on immigration and fighting jihadists.
"France is no longer France. They won't like me for saying
that but... France is no longer France and this world better be
very careful and they better get very tough and very smart," the
US president said in a campaign speech.
In bringing Trump to Paris, Macron has stolen a march on
Britain's embattled Prime Minister Theresa May.
London's offer in February of a state visit for Trump met
fierce public resistance, Britons perceiving it as a desperate
act by a government in need of a trade deal as it faced tough
negotiations on its exit from the European Union. A date has
still not been confirmed.
In Paris, public opinion appeared divided.
"You can see that the way Trump's headed isn't going to help
things and I think diplomatic channels are the best way to calm
things down," said antique dealer Florence Toussaint.
Psychologist Martine Aubourg was less impressed. "Trump
isn't an honourable president," she said. "He changes his mind
all the time."