By Steve Holland and John Irish
WASHINGTON/PARIS (Reuters) – U.S. President-elect Donald Trump returns to the world stage on Saturday to hitch leaders for the reopening of the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, nonetheless a non-public citizen however already getting ready to deal with a number of worldwide crises.
Will probably be Trump’s first journey abroad since he gained the presidential election a month in the past and it may provide French President Emmanuel Macron a possibility to play the position of mediator between Europe and the unpredictable U.S. politician, a task the French chief has relished previously.
The 2 are anticipated to satisfy on the sidelines of Saturday’s go to. Whereas no agenda for his or her talks has been introduced, European leaders are involved that Trump may withdraw U.S. navy assist to Ukraine at a vital juncture in its warfare to repel Russian invaders.
Macron is a robust supporter of the NATO alliance and Ukraine’s battle, whereas Trump feels European nations have to pay extra for his or her widespread protection and {that a} negotiated settlement is required to finish the Ukraine warfare.
“Mr. Macron is repeating his personalized approach which had some limited success during Mr. Trump’s first term. Macron knows Mr. Trump greatly appreciates the pomp, circumstance and grandeur of state and he provides it to him in abundance,” mentioned Heather Conley, senior adviser to the board of the German Marshall Fund, which promotes U.S.-European ties.
Trump will be part of dozens of world leaders and overseas dignitaries for the ceremony reopening Notre-Dame Cathedral 5-1/2 years after it was ravaged by fireplace.
It was unclear whether or not Trump would meet different leaders moreover Macron. The Trump transition staff didn’t reply to a request for particulars.
Whereas Trump is because of be sworn in as U.S. president solely on Jan. 20, he has already held discussions with quite a few world leaders, and members of his staff try to stand up to hurry on a burgeoning variety of world crises, together with Ukraine and the Center East.
Trump’s nationwide safety adviser, Mike Waltz, and Ukraine envoy, Keith Kellogg (NYSE:), met on Wednesday in Washington with Ukraine envoy Andriy Yermak, resulting in hypothesis {that a} assembly between Trump and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy could be within the offing in Paris.
Trump, a Republican, was in energy when Notre-Dame burned in 2019. He misplaced his 2020 reelection bid to Democrat Joe Biden however on Nov. 5 defeated Kamala Harris, Biden’s vp, to win again the presidency.
“Symbolically, both Mr. Trump’s presidency and Notre-Dame have been restored in approximately the same time period. His visit to Paris is also the opening salvo of his return to the world stage, further diminishing the final days of the Biden administration,” Conley mentioned.
Biden’s spouse, first woman Jill Biden, will signify america on the Notre-Dame reopening.
GLOBAL SPECTACLE
Trump will get loads of worldwide buzz standing alongside different world leaders. He visited France 4 instances whereas president from 2017-2021, together with D-Day anniversary ceremonies in 2019.
“Trump will be seen throughout the world in potentially a statesman-like position,” mentioned Republican strategist Doug Heye.
“It’s not images of him at Mar-a-Lago,” Heye mentioned, referring to the Florida dwelling the place Trump has spent the majority of his time because the election. “This is the biggest event of the world and he’ll be peer-to-peer with other leaders.”
Observers will likely be watching how Trump and Macron work together. The 2 males have endured ups and downs of their relationship through the years.
Macron invited Trump to the Bastille Day navy parade in Paris in July 2017, a spectacle that impressed Trump to order up his personal navy parade in Washington to mark America’s Independence Day in 2019.
Trump hosted Macron at a White Home state dinner in 2018 however a yr later the 2 quarreled over feedback Macron made concerning the state of NATO.
“Trump coming to Paris is a ‘good coup’ by Emmanuel Macron,” mentioned Gerard Araud, France’s former ambassador to Washington. “It is indispensable to have a direct relationship with the only man who counts in the Trump administration, Trump himself.”
Macron, who has simply over two years left as president, pursued a non-confrontational strategy towards Trump throughout the latter’s first time period, hoping that by participating with him he may win concessions.
However because the years handed, coverage selections on local weather, taxation and Iran specifically triggered friction between the 2 leaders. By the top it was a extra fractious relationship.
Clashes probably lie forward, fueled by Trump’s need to impose sweeping tariffs on Europe and different U.S. commerce companions, and disagreement over the way to deal with the Ukraine-Russia battle.
