Macron shows Trudeau how it’s done
French president’s whirlwind visit to India wildly successful compared to Canadian leader’s textbook flop
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 triumph.
Here’s a quick rundown of how another handsome, French-speaking, progressive G7 leader outdid Trudeau in almost every way.
Modi met Macron at the 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, Narendra Modi is a busy man who rarely greets visiting dignitaries at the airport, but the Indian prime minister was on hand 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 in Modi’s company.
Trudeau was only able to get attention from the prime minister by literally showing up at India’s equivalent of Rideau Hall.
France got a lot 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 co-hosted the International Solar Alliance Summit in New Delhi. He reiterated French technological 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 IndoFrench ties on defence, security and even space exploration.
The press love him
So far in 2018, easily the No. 1 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.
Several opinion pieces praised closer Indo-French ties as a bulwark against rising Chinese influence in the region.
Macron wore a suit every day
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.”
There also appear to be few photographs of the French president with his hands clasped in an Indian-style prayer pose.
Macron stayed only 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.
No terrorists invited
France pulled off an entire visit without inviting a single extremist to a diplomatic gathering.
Most importantly, France did not invite a terrorist to several 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.