Macron A Friend, Says Truss In Bid To Patch Up Relations

Liz Truss has declared French president Emmanuel Macron a friend” in a bid to repair a diplomatic rift sparked when she refused to use the word during the Conservative leadership campaign.

- Andrew Woodcock

The comment came as the prime minister attended a summit of the new European Political Community called by Mr Macron to foster cooperation between the continent’s EU and non-EU members.

The PM insisted that her presence at the summit in the Czech capital Prague did not indicate a desire to move closer to Europe” after Brexit, but was an effort to work together with allies on issues like energy supplies and the Ukraine war.

Ms Truss raised Parisian hackles when she was asked during a leadership hustings event whether Mr Macron was friend or foe” and replied: The jury’s out.”

A clearly stung Macron responded: The United Kingdom is a friend of France... regardless of its leaders and sometimes despite its leaders.”

But the pair appear since to have smoothed over their differences, and it is understood the incident was not mentioned when they met at the United Nations in New York last month.

Energy security and migration were top of her agenda as she held bilateral talks with Mr Macron in Prague.