French president goes to India and it’s not a mess
This week, French president Emmanuel Macron became the first Western leader to visit India since the departure of Justin Trudeau. Where Trudeau’s visit was a textbook disaster in international relations, Macron has apparently been bathing in diplomatic tr
MET MODI AT AIRPORT
There was a lot of talk about how Trudeau was “snubbed” upon his arrival in India. Trudeau was met on the tarmac by Gajendra Shekhawat, the Indian minister for agriculture. Granted, Modi is a busy man who rarely greets visiting dignitaries at the airport. But the Indian prime minister absolutely made time to meet the French president the moment Macron’s feet touched Indian soil. “I think we have very good chemistry,” Macron said later. In fact, the French leader spent much of his time in India alongside Modi. Trudeau was only able to get attention from the prime minister by literally showing up to India’s equivalent of Rideau Hall.
FRANCE GOT STUFF DONE
The ultimate purpose for Trudeau’s trip to India is still a little unclear. Over eight days, the only real accomplishment was an announcement highlighting that Indian companies plan to invest $250 million in Canada, and Canadians plan to invest $750 million in India. Macron, however, cut the ribbon on a major solar plant. He reiterated French support to build the world’s largest nuclear power plant in India. He oversaw US$16 billion in contracts signed between French and Indian companies. He defended a controversial sale of French fighter jets to the Indian military. He inked a flurry of agreements strengthening Indo-French ties on defence, security, even space exploration.
THE PRESS LOVE HIM
So far in 2018, easily the top Canadian international news story has been how Trudeau (and his wardrobe) utterly botched a routine visit to India. “Trudeau’s India trip is a total disaster — and he has only himself to blame,” wrote the Washington Post, echoing a typical headline. But with Macron’s visit, the world press had nothing but praise for what they see as a noticeable strengthening of Indo-French ties. “Macron-Modi love on show as France courts India,” read a Times of India headline.
STAYED FOUR DAYS
Macron made his visit short and sweet. The whirlwind tour started Friday and wrapped up Monday. Trudeau not only took twice as long, but he easily had a fraction of the high-level diplomatic engagements.
MACRON WORE A SUIT
The French president has worn dark suits the whole time, complete with low-key ties and socks, not all that different from what was being worn by most of his hosts, who generally don’t dress for diplomatic engagements as if it’s their wedding day. Macron’s muted style is in sharp contrast to Trudeau, who touched down in New Delhi with at least four traditional Indian outfits that were quickly criticized by Indians as being “a bit much.” Effectively, Trudeau’s sartorial style was roughly equivalent to showing up in Scotland with a steamer trunk full of kilts and sporrans.
TERRORISTS NOT INVITED
France pulled off an entire visit without inviting a single extremist to a diplomatic gathering. Macron didn’t have to meet with the chief minister of Punjab to assure him that he doesn’t clandestinely support a terrorist underground. The French president’s wife didn’t pose for a photo with a terrorist. Most importantly, France did not invite a terrorist to diplomatic events, and then attempt to lay the blame on India when the gaffe was discovered. All told, it was quite a terrorist-free visit. Quite the opposite, in fact.