Trump flip-flops on Paris accord, talks Syria roadmap with Macron
The Guardian letters@hindustantimes.com n
Donald Trump has made a gushing show of friendship to French President Emmanuel Macron, saying the two countries had an “unbreakable bond”, pledging to draw up a road map for post-conflict Syria, and asserting that the two leaders could work together despite clear differences on climate change.
Trump remained non-committal over the US eventually rejoining the global climate agreement that he pulled out of last month to the dismay of Macron and other world leaders.
At first, he hinted he might change his mind and bring the US back into the agreement, saying: “Something could happen with respect to the Paris accord. We’ll see what happens. We will talk about that in the coming period of time.”
But he quickly followed up with a shrug, adding: “if it happens that will be wonderful, and if it doesn’t that will be OK, too.”
Trump acknowledged that France and the US had “occasional disagreements” but said that would not disrupt a friendship that dates back to the American Revolution.
Macron acknowledged sharp differences with Trump over climate change, but he said he and the US president were able to discuss how best to combat “a global threat with enemies who are trying to destabilise us”, with a focus on counter-terrorism
Trump said his recent meeting with Vladimir Putin had led to a ceasefire in a part of southern Syria and said that he was working on “a second ceasefire in a very rough part of Syria”. He suggested that other parties would become involved in the deal, saying “and all of a sudden you will have no bullets fired in Syria”.
The Trumps were greeted with great military pomp by the Macrons. This appeared to flatter the US president, who has described himself as “a big military person” fond of army parades. He patted Macron on the back several times. But when Trump took the hand of Brigitte Macron for the first time, he pulled it firmly towards himself and awkwardly did not let go for some time.