French President Emmanuel Macron responded on Friday to the British foreign secretary refusing to call him a friend of Britain in response to a question put to her at a Conservative Party leadership event.
When asked if Macron was a friend or foe, Liz Truss said: “The jury is out. If I become prime minister, I will judge him on deeds, not words.”
Her response received applause inside the event hall packed with the party faithful, but was condemned by a range of people outside.
Truss’ opponent for the leadership of the Conservative Party and contender for Britain’s next prime minister, former Chancellor Rishi Sunak, replied to the same question by immediately saying Macron was a “friend” of Britain.
Today, Macron weighed in on Truss’ controversial response.
“If I were asked the question, this is roughly how I’m going to answer you – whichever person is being considered and whatever the future leadership in Britain, I don’t hesitate one second. The United Kingdom is France’s friend,” he said.
“If, between us as French and British people, we aren’t able to say if we’re friends or foes – the term isn’t neutral – we’re heading towards serious problems,” he added.
“So yes, certainly, let me say that the British people, the United Kingdom is a friendly, strong, ally nation, regardless of its leaders, and sometimes in spite of and beyond its leaders, or any potential slip-ups they make when playing to the gallery,” the French president said.
Light-hearted comment
Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi defended Truss’ comments.
“It was clearly said as a light-hearted comment with a touch of humor,” he told local media. “I think it is right that we also hold our allies to that very high standard.”
As for Britain’s outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson, he mixed French and English and told local media that Macron was a very good friend of Britain.
“Emmanuel Macron est un tres bon buddy de notre pays,” Johnson said.
“I think the relations between the UK and France are of huge importance. They have been very good for a long time, ever since the Napoleonic era basically, and I think we should celebrate that,” he added.
“As for Emmanuel, I’ve had very good relations with him and I can tell you something: he’s a great, great fan of our country,” Johnson added.
Peter Ricketts, a former British ambassador to Paris, said: “As Britain’s foreign minister, as its probable future prime minister, to insult the president of France, make a joke, indulge in silly point-scoring for cheap laughs, is just plain irresponsible.”
Nathalie Loiseau, a former French Europe minister and currently the chair of the European parliament’s EU-UK partnership assembly, said: “From a future leader, one expects leadership. And from a future stateswoman, one expects statesmanship. Her remarks fell into neither category.”
Northern Ireland Protocol
Meanwhile, local media reported that Truss was also considering triggering Article 16 within days of taking office.
The move, which would see Britain unilaterally disapply parts of the Northern Ireland protocol, would be hugely controversial with the EU, and would certainly further sour relations and possibly even trigger a trade war.
Members of Britain’s ruling Conservative Party are currently voting to decide on their next leader, who will also become the next prime minister.
Truss is leading in internal Conservative Party membership polls by some margin, though Sunak led in the first stage of the contest with Conservative Party lawmakers.
The new leader of the Conservative Party, and in turn prime minister, will be announced on Sept. 5.
Source: Anadolu Agency