Donald Trump returns to world stage for Paris ceremony
Steve Holland and John Irish |
US President-elect Donald Trump is returning to the world stage to join leaders for the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, still a private citizen but already preparing to tackle a host of international crises.
It is Trump’s first trip overseas since he won the presidential election in November and could offer French President Emmanuel Macron an opportunity to play the role of mediator between Europe and the unpredictable US politician – a role the French leader has relished in the past.
Trump landed at Paris Orly airport just before 0600 GMT on Saturday before heading to the US Embassy near the French presidential palace, French media reported.
Macron and Trump are expected to meet on the sidelines of Saturday’s visit.
While no agenda for their talks has been announced, European leaders are concerned Trump could withdraw US military aid to Ukraine at a crucial juncture in its war to repel Russian invaders.
Macron is a strong supporter of the NATO alliance and Ukraine’s fight, while Trump feels European nations need to pay more for their common defence and that a negotiated settlement is needed to end the Ukraine war.
“Mr Macron is repeating his personalised approach which had some limited success during Mr Trump’s first term,” said Heather Conley, senior adviser to the board of the German Marshall Fund, which promotes US-European ties.
“Macron knows Mr Trump greatly appreciates the pomp, circumstance and grandeur of state and he provides it to him in abundance.”
Trump will join dozens of world leaders and foreign dignitaries for the ceremony reopening Notre Dame Cathedral five years after it was ravaged by fire.
He will also meet with Britain’s Prince William but it was unclear whether he would meet other leaders besides Macron.
The Trump transition team did not respond to a request for details.
While Trump is due to be sworn in as US president on January 20, he has already held discussions with world leaders, and members of his team are trying to get up to speed on a burgeoning number of world crises, including Ukraine and the Middle East.
Trump’s national security adviser, Mike Waltz, and Ukraine envoy, Keith Kellogg, met on Wednesday in Washington with Ukraine envoy Andriy Yermak, leading to speculation that a meeting between Trump and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy might be in the offing in Paris.
Trump, a Republican, was in power when Notre Dame burned in 2019.
He lost his 2020 re-election bid to Democrat Joe Biden but on November 5 defeated Kamala Harris, Biden’s vice president, to win back the presidency.
“Symbolically, both Mr Trump’s presidency and Notre Dame have been restored in approximately the same time period,” Conley said.
“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.”
Biden’s wife, First Lady Jill Biden, will represent the US at the Notre Dame reopening.
Trump will get plenty of worldwide buzz standing alongside other world leaders.
He visited France four times while president from 2017-2021, including D-Day anniversary ceremonies in 2019.
Observers will be watching how Trump and Macron interact.
“Trump coming to Paris is a ‘good coup’ by Emmanuel Macron,” France’s former ambassador to Washington Gerard Araud said.
“It is indispensable to have a direct relationship with the only man who counts in the Trump administration – Trump himself.”
Reuters
