Macron And Merkel: Royal Wedding Guests?

Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel have had a close working relationship since Macron became the French president in 2017. Macron is the current president of France and the ex officio co-prince of Andorra, while Merkel is the chancellor of Germany. Both leaders have had their ups and downs, with Merkel stepping down from her party's position in 2018 and Macron facing protests and strikes over his domestic reforms. They have also been seen holding hands at a solemn ceremony, and Macron has described their relationship as a love often clandestine, often hidden, misunderstood by many before imposing itself. It is not clear if Macron and Merkel are invited to the same wedding, but given their close relationship and frequent meetings, it is possible that they are.

Macron and Merkel's visit to Washington

In April 2018, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel made separate visits to Washington, DC, to meet with President Donald Trump. Macron's visit, from April 23 to 25, was his first to the White House as president, while Merkel's was a brief working visit on April 27.

Macron's trip included a private dinner with Trump, a State Dinner, bilateral meetings, and a joint press conference. He also addressed a joint session of Congress and held a town-hall-style meeting at George Washington University. The visit brought wide public exposure to Franco-American relations.

Merkel's visit, her third meeting with Trump, came after she began her fourth term as chancellor, leading Europe's largest country and most prosperous economy. Merkel and Germany had been on the receiving end of Trump's direct criticism on issues such as refugee policy, trade surplus with the US, and low defense spending.

Both leaders had plenty to discuss with Trump, including the war in Syria, the possible withdrawal of the US from the Iran nuclear deal, relations with Russia and China, and the imposition of tariffs.

The visits occurred at a critical time in transatlantic relations, with the US threatening to impose punitive tariffs on the European Union and potentially withdraw from the Iran nuclear agreement. Macron and Merkel sought to prevent a transatlantic trade war and address concerns about China's growing role in the European economy.

The German-American relationship had reached a post-war low, with Berlin being a particular target of the Trump administration's animosity. Merkel's brief and businesslike visit was expected to be uncomfortable due to the significant differences between the two leaders.

Macron, on the other hand, was seen as having best understood how to respond to the Trump phenomenon. He had participated in punitive strikes against Syria and committed to increasing France's defense spending to 2% by 2024. Macron had also drawn red lines on the Iran Agreement and the Paris climate accord.

The visits by Macron and Merkel to Washington highlighted the state of Europe's relationship with the Trump administration and the challenges facing the transatlantic partnership.

Macron and Merkel's relationship

Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel have had a politically strategic relationship. Both leaders have had their ups and downs and have been respectively declared the new "leader of the free world" after President Barack Obama stepped down. Macron and Merkel have had to deal with domestic troubles, and both have faced criticism from populist movements on the left and the right.

Macron and Merkel have also had to navigate challenges within the European Union, such as Brexit and the election of a U.S. president who has pursued an "America First" policy. Despite these difficulties, they are seen as the most powerful protectors of the European Union. They have worked together to address issues such as the European debt crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the need for economic reforms within the EU.

Macron and Merkel have demonstrated a united front on several occasions, such as when they met in June 2020 to reaffirm their commitment to the EU Recovery Fund. They have also shown a common front on issues like an EU carbon border tax and the need for reforms within the EU. In 2018, they stood together at a World War I commemorative event, holding hands and presenting a strong image of Franco-German unity.

Macron and Merkel's unity pledge

On the 18th of November 2018, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron met in Berlin to discuss defence, the eurozone, and other matters. They pledged to continue Franco-German collaboration to strengthen the "foundation" of Europe, with Macron speaking of a "Franco-German responsibility" to re-establish Europe. Merkel agreed, stating that Europe was at a "crossroads" in terms of its future role in the world.

This meeting came ahead of an extraordinary" Eurogroup meeting the following Monday, and a special EU leaders' summit the following Sunday to discuss Brexit. France and Germany proposed an outline of a eurozone budget, which governments within the single currency bloc could access if they complied with strict rules on economic policy coordination. Merkel and Macron also discussed the concept of a European army, an idea that had been criticised by U.S. President Donald Trump.

The Franco-German alliance has been seen as a powerful protector of the European Union, which is under unprecedented pressure from both the inside and outside. Macron and Merkel's display of unity has been interpreted as a sign that the experience of two World Wars paved the way for a political project strong enough to withstand mounting polarisation. However, it is unclear if this alliance will survive intact or how long it will last, as Merkel faces an uncertain future in German politics.

Macron and Merkel's visit to Compiègne

On 10 November 2018, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel visited Compiègne to commemorate the centenary of the armistice signing that ended World War I. This was the first time since 1940 that leaders from the two countries had met at the historic site. Under grey clouds and persistent drizzle, Macron and Merkel clasped hands at a solemn ceremony. As the French and German national anthems played, the sun briefly broke through and Merkel rested her head on Macron's. The two leaders laid a wreath and unveiled a plaque celebrating their reconciliation. They then signed the visitors' book in a replica of the railway carriage, known as the Compiègne Wagon, where the armistice was signed in 1918 and France surrendered in the second world war.

The Elysée described Merkel's visit to Compiègne as "highly symbolic". It was the first time French and German leaders had visited the site since the second world war, echoing the moment when Chancellor Helmut Kohl and President François Mitterrand appeared hand-in-hand at Verdun in 1984. Macron and Merkel's visit to Compiègne was part of a weekend of commemorations that culminated with a ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in central Paris on Sunday morning.

During the ceremony at Compiègne, Macron and Merkel took part in a memorial ceremony at the Compiegne forest, 90 kilometres (56 miles) northeast of Paris. They watched as the French and German militaries held a joint march to remember the 1.4 million French and 2 million German soldiers killed in the 1914-1918 war. Saturday's meeting was the first since 1945 between French and German heads of state at the location where the armistice was signed.

The Compiègne Wagon holds historical significance as the carriage in which Marshal Ferdinand Foch, supreme commander of the western front, signed the ceasefire agreement with Germany in 1918. In an act of revenge, Adolf Hitler forced France to sign its capitulation in the same carriage in June 1940. Macron and Merkel's visit to Compiègne symbolised the reconciliation between France and Germany and their unity in commemorating the lives lost during World War I.

Macron and Merkel's relationship with Trump

Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel's relationship with Donald Trump has been a complex one, with both leaders adopting different approaches to dealing with the US President.

Macron's relationship with Trump has been described as a close working relationship and a close personal relationship. Macron has been referred to as Trump's main European interlocutor and was the first foreign leader to be invited for a state visit by the White House during the Trump presidency. Macron has been keen to establish a strong personal relationship with Trump, refraining from directly criticising the US President and instead seeking to create a space for dialogue and compromise. This has been described as a seduction campaign and an attempt to groom Trump. Macron has also been described as one of Trump's "favourite leaders", with the two sharing hugs and displays of tactile behaviour.

However, despite this apparent closeness, there have been notable policy differences between the two leaders. Macron has been critical of Trump's approach to climate change, trade, and Iran. He has also sought to contain" the White House by working with other US political actors, such as influential governors and business figures. Macron's activism in the Middle East and North Africa, particularly in Libya, has also been noted as an area of divergence with Trump.

Merkel, on the other hand, has had a more difficult relationship with Trump. The US President has been openly critical of Germany's refugee policy, its trade surplus with the US, and its low defence spending. Merkel and Trump have had limited contact, going five months without speaking to each other at one point. Their encounters have been described as lacking chemistry and niceties, with Merkel taking a more business-like approach to their interactions.

Despite their differences, both Macron and Merkel have sought to maintain a working relationship with Trump, recognising the importance of the US-European alliance. Merkel, in particular, has been described as having no choice but to try and make the relationship work, especially when it comes to trade.

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