Macron says UK and France must ‘move on’ from Truss remarks
Emmanuel Macron has offered Liz Truss an olive branch after her controversial “friend or foe” remarks by saying after their first bilateral talks that it is time to “move on”.
The two leaders appeared to smooth over tensions during their meeting in New York, which No 10 said was dominated by Ukraine and energy security, but avoided the controversial issues of the Northern Ireland protocol and migration.
After the talks, the French president told reporters: “I now believe in proof, in results. There is a will to re-engage, to move on, and to show that we are allies and friends in a complex world.”
During the Conservative leadership contest, Truss said the “jury’s out” over whether Macron was a “friend or foe” after her predecessor Boris Johnson clashed with him over Brexit and small boats crossing the Channel.
In what appeared to be a softening of her stance, Truss told reporters on the plane to New York that she wants to have a “constructive” relationship with France, working with Macron on migration, Brexit, energy security and Ukraine.
Government sources suggested the prime minister’s more conciliatory tone reflected her wish to be diplomatic on the day of the Queen’s funeral, although after the talks, No 10 said the two leaders wanted to “strengthen” their relationship.
After the Queen’s death, the French president tweeted about the “unbreakable” ties between France and the UK.
No 10 and French sources confirmed the potential flashpoint issue of the post-Brexit trading relationship had not been discussed. However, the French claimed that migration had been raised by Truss, but only in passing.
French sources revealed the two leaders briefly discussed Macron’s European political community project to address political and
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