August 26, 2022
1 min read

Truss unsure is Macron is ‘friend or foe’

Both Truss and her rival candidate Rishi Sunak were asked a series of quickfire questions at the Norwich hustings…reports Asian Lite News

Liz Truss, one of two contenders to become the new UK Prime Minister, has been accused of risking worsened diplomatic relations with France after she said the “jury’s out” on President Emmanuel Macron.

Truss, the incumbent Foreign Secretary, told Conservative Party members at a leadership hustings in Norwich on Thursday that she was undecided as to whether her counterpart in Paris was “friend or foe”.

A number of issues have affected the UK and France in recent months, including boat crossings in the Channel and travel chaos around Dover, which Truss blamed on a lack of staffing by the French authorities.

Both Truss and her rival candidate Rishi Sunak were asked a series of quickfire questions at the Norwich hustings.

TalkTV’s Julia Hartley-Brewer, the event host, asked Truss: “President Macron, friend or foe?”

“The jury’s out,” she responded to loud applause. “But if I become Prime Minister, I would judge him on deeds, not words.”

Sunak had quickly answered “friend” when asked the same question.

Meanwhile, the opposition Labour warned that the comment, which could be seen to risk straining tensions with France, showed a “terrible and worrying lack of judgment”.

Former Conservative minister Gavin Barwell also questioned the remark, tweeting: “You would have thought the Foreign Secretary was aware we are in a military alliance with France.”

The remarks comes after Truss distanced the UK from the prospect of a project of being part of a wider European political community following a meeting between Boris Johnson and the French president in June.

The Elysee Palace insisted that Johnson had expressed interest in the idea, which would see non-EU states such as the UK involved.

Truss denied the UK had ever been on board with such a proposal.

In July, she said delays to the journeys of holidaymakers near Dover were the fault of French authorities and had been “entirely avoidable”.

ALSO READ-Sunak attempts to catch up with Truss at Birmingham  

Previous Story

UN rights chief under pressure over Xinjiang report

Next Story

Bhaichung Bhutia files fresh nomination for AIFF president’s post

Latest from -Top News

Multi-alignment, upgraded

With US ties strained and China tense, New Delhi taps Europe’s harder edge for co-development, clean tech and strategic autonomy, writes Manoj Menon India is recalibrating its great-power hedging as frictions with

India-EU Trade Deal Breakthrough Soon?

Negotiators report increased momentum in discussions, which have been given a boost from US President Donald Trump’s tariff offensive…reports Asian Lite News India and the European Union aim to finalise a trade

Europe Seeks Peace in Gaza

European countries condemn Israeli interception of Gaza-bound flotilla, demand safety of citizens…reports Asian Lite News Israel’s interception of an international flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza has sparked condemnation across Europe, with

GAZA: Egypt to Host Peace Talks

Egypt hopes the discussions will help “end the war and the suffering of the brotherly Palestinian people, which has continued for two consecutive years…reports Asian Lite News Egypt will host Israeli and

‘My Injuries Made Me’

During his four-year battle with injury, the incumbent fast bowling spearhead made occasional appearances but couldn’t bear the workload and demands of red-ball cricket….reports Asian Lite News England tearaway Jofra Archer believes
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Macron wants to get tough on Russia

Macron has put himself at the forefront of the diplomatic

Sunak scores surprise debate win over Truss

Burley also challenged Truss on her comments soon after Russia’s