(MENAFN- Asia Times)
A growing transatlantic rift that was on display over the weekend is appearing more pronounced by the day.
On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump ridiculed his French counterpart, Emanuel Macron, while German Chancellor Angela Merkel called for a European army to confront a changing geopolitical landscape.
Merkel's renewed calls for such a force, which were an endorsement of Macron's statements to that effect over the weekend, were met with a mingling of loud applause and boos at a meeting of the European Parliament, German daily Die Welt reported .
'We should work on the vision of one day creating a true European army," Merkel said in the speech. "A common European army would show the world that there will never be war between the European countries again."
The words came as Trump mocked Macron, throwing in a swipe about France's loss in World War II.
As chatter of a deal with China trade is building, Trump reminded his Twitter audience that his trade disputes aren't limited to disagreements with Beijing. He also continued his campaign to rehabilitate the term nationalism, which he has only recently begun using openly to describe his administration's policies.
On Trade, France makes excellent wine, but so does the U.S. The problem is that France makes it very hard for the U.S. to sell its wines into France, and charges big Tariffs, whereas the U.S. makes it easy for French wines, and charges very small Tariffs. Not fair, must change!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 13, 2018
The problem is that Emmanuel suffers from a very low Approval Rating in France, 26%, and an unemployment rate of almost 10%. He was just trying to get onto another subject. By the way, there is no country more Nationalist than France, very proud people-and rightfully so!……..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 13, 2018
……MAKE FRANCE GREAT AGAIN!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 13, 2018
Macron made headlines in a speech over the weekend, during which he called nationalism a 'the exact opposite of patriotism.'
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