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France’s Macron responds to UK foreign minister refusing to call him Britain’s friend
French President Emmanuel Macron responded on Friday (August 26) to the British foreign secretary refusing to call him a friend of Britain in response to a question put to her at a Conservative Party leadership event, according to the Anadolu Agency.
Liz Truss’s remark came as she was asked if Mr Macron was a "friend or foe" of the UK at a Tory leadership hustings.
She added that if elected PM she would judge him on "deeds not words".
Her response received applause inside the event hall packed with the party faithful, but was condemned by a range of people outside.
Truss’ opponent for the leadership of the Conservative Party and contender for Britain’s next prime minister, former Chancellor Rishi Sunak, replied to the same question by immediately saying Macron was a “friend” of Britain.
The UK and France have clashed over several issues in recent years, including migrant boat crossings in the Channel, a military pact between Britain, the US and Australia, and Brexit measures involving Northern Ireland. Mr Macron has sometimes publicly criticised the Conservative government's approach.
Today, Macron weighed in on Truss’ controversial response.
"If I were asked the question, this is roughly how I'm going to answer you - whichever person is being considered and whatever the future leadership in Britain, I don't hesitate one second. The United Kingdom is France's friend,” he said.
"If, between us as French and British people, we aren't able to say if we're friends or foes - the term isn't neutral - we're heading towards serious problems,” he added.
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"So yes, certainly, let me say that the British people, the United Kingdom is a friendly, strong, ally nation, regardless of its leaders, and sometimes in spite of and beyond its leaders, or any potential slip-ups they make when playing to the gallery," the French president said.
Britain’s outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson, he mixed French and English and told local media that Macron was a very good friend of Britain.
“Emmanuel Macron est un tres bon buddy de notre pays," Johnson said.
"I think the relations between the UK and France are of huge importance. They have been very good for a long time, ever since the Napoleonic era basically, and I think we should celebrate that,” he added.
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"As for Emmanuel, I've had very good relations with him and I can tell you something: he's a great, great fan of our country,” Johnson added.
Members of Britain’s ruling Conservative Party are currently voting to decide on their next leader, who will also become the next prime minister.
Truss is leading in internal Conservative Party membership polls by some margin, though Sunak led in the first stage of the contest with Conservative Party lawmakers.
The new leader of the Conservative Party, and in turn prime minister, will be announced on Sept. 5.
levantnews-agencies
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