Macron speaks out on issues in France-UK relations — RT World News
The French president hit back at remarks from hopeful British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who declined to say whether he was ‘friend or foe’.
London and Paris would have a « Serious problem » in their relationship if they were unable to tell if they were friends or foes, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday.
The remark came in response to statements by Liz Truss, the favorite to become Britain’s next prime minister, who declined to say whether she considered the French president a « Friend or enemy. »
“If I became prime minister, I would judge him by actions, not words. The jury is out, « she said late Thursday.
Macron was asked to comment on the remarks during his trip to Algeria, telling Truss it was actually « not good to lose your bearings too much. » He also seemed to steer Truss’s personal-sounding statement towards a larger question about the relationship between their two countries, stating unequivocally that « France is the friend of the British people. »
« The British people, the United Kingdom, are a friendly, strong and allied nation, whoever their leaders are, and sometimes despite their leaders or the little mistakes they may make in demagoguery », Macron said.
« If we are not able, between France and Great Britain, to say whether we are friends or enemies – the term is not neutral – we are heading towards serious problems », he warned.
Outgoing British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was quick to soften his would-be successor’s remarks, insisting that Macron personally has always been a « very good friend » in London.
“I think I have always had a very good relationship with Emmanuel Macron. Emmanuel Macron is a very good friend of our country”, said Johnson, partially switching to French. London and Paris had « very good » relations for more than two centuries, he added « essentially since Napoleonic times », and these links should be « famous. »
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