While Russia accelerates its salvo in neighboring Ukraine, even threatening looks like nuclear armageddon Britain and France — both NATO members — have somehow yet to settle the matter.
British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has been engaged in a bitter rivalry with Rishi Sunak for leadership of the ruling Conservative Party. recently asked French President Emmanuel Macron is “friend or foe.” Her response, offered to the applause from her decidedly partisan audience, was simple and direct. ‘ Then she said, in an almost conciliatory manner, ‘But when I become Prime Minister, I will judge him by his deeds, not his words.
These remarks came as Mr Macron made a discreet visit to Algeria, a former French colony across the Mediterranean.Since then, relations between France and Algeria have become particularly troubled. Comment from President Macron last year He accused the Algerian government of “exploiting the memory” of the colonial era and “rewriting history” based on “hatred of France”. President Macron brought his 90-member delegation, including finance, interior, defense and foreign ministers, to his own endeavours.
So Macron didn’t seem to have much patience for another swirling storm of rhetoric that Truss seemed to have wrought. If two countries “cannot decide whether they are friends or enemies, it is not a neutral term, but they are in serious trouble.” French president said“People of Britain, Britain is friendly, strong and ally, regardless of its leaders, sometimes despite small mistakes in its leadership and grandstanding”. he told reporters.
Of course, Johnson could hardly pass up a good opportunity to throw himself into the fuss, with or without a teapot. He said Mr Macron was “a big fan of our country” or, to avoid being misunderstood across the Channel, “un très bon ‘buddy’ de notre pays.” Very important…it’s been very good for a long time, basically since the Napoleonic era, and I think we should celebrate it.”
This is a particularly ominous moment for such tensions Build between two anchor nations in a NATO alliance — Especially when they are on the same side in Europe’s biggest war since World War II. Britain and France should probably find a way to get along – at least on friendly veneers.
Johnson’s former adviser, Dominic Cummings, said: called a truss Not without considerable evidence of a “human grenade”. The problem is that there have recently been brisk grenades fired in both directions across what the British continue to call the “English Channel” and the French simply call “La Manche”, literally translated as “sleeves”. is being done. Or “channel” if pressed.
French members of the European Parliament this week petitioned the European Commission Take action against the UK for “polluting” the English Channel and the adjacent North Sea with sewage. This comes as the UK authorities self-issued pollution warnings for dozens of beaches in England and Wales as water companies began discharging raw sewage after a series of heavy rains.
“We cannot stand that the environment, the economic activities of trawler fishermen and the health of our citizens are being seriously endangered.” Fuming of Stephanie Yung Courtan, one of the lawmakers who signed the letter calling for legal action. “The English Channel and the North Sea are not dumping grounds,” said Steve Double, UK Water Minister. Brand your French comments “Unhelpful and lacking information.”
The Times, in its first report on the matter, did not take responsibility to Brexit on this issue. (Britain’s withdrawal agreement could be invoked if it is found to be polluting these waters.
Of course, there is a long history between these two countries sharing such a strategic waterway. It dates back to the conquest of William I, Duke of Normandy, in 1066. crossed the straitDefeated the Anglo-Saxons at the Battle of Hastings and claimed the English throne.
Since 1805, the two countries have maintained an almost even relationship. Choose Brexit, withdraw from the European Union – France is hard at work building it, Macron served as president This year is a rotating system. What followed was a series of reflections. Four years ago, a trawler Both countries claim A valuable fishing ground for scallops.
The big question now is whether things can be restored to pre-Brexit levels and whether the Truss want it. She should because of Ukraine’s war against Britain, the Atlantic Alliance and certainly Russia. For a truly united front, there has never been a more important moment.
Source: www.cnn.com
