U.S. President Joe Biden and France鈥檚 President Emmanuel Macron shake hands as they attend a bilateral meeting during the G7 summit in Carbis Bay, Cornwall, Britain, June 12, 2021. (REUTERS) REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
CARBIS BAY, England 鈥� The United States is back as a cooperative leader of the free world under President Joe Biden, France鈥檚 Emmanuel Macron said on Saturday, illustrating the relief felt by many key U.S. allies that the tumult of Donald Trump鈥檚 presidency is over.
Macron鈥檚 remark echoes that of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson who hailed Biden on Thursday as 鈥渁 big breath of fresh air.鈥�
Neither Macron nor Johnson drew an explicit parallel between Biden and Trump, though both praised Biden鈥檚 distinctly cooperative tone and officials said there was relief after Trump at times shocked and bewildered many European allies.
Biden, asked by a reporter if America was back, turned to Macron and gestured with his Ray Ban Aviator sunglasses towards the French president that he should answer that question.
鈥淵es definitely,鈥� Macron said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 great to have a U.S. president who鈥檚 part of the club and very willing to cooperate.鈥�
鈥淲hat you demonstrate is that leadership is partnership,鈥� Macron told Biden as they sat on an outdoor terrace with a sweeping view of the turquoise sea behind them.
Biden agreed.
鈥淭he United States, I鈥檝e said before, we鈥檙e back,鈥� Biden said. 鈥淭hings are going, I think, well, and we鈥檙e, as we say back in the States, we鈥檙e on the same page.鈥�
Biden added that the United States felt very strongly about the cohesion of the NATO military alliance and expressed support for the European Union 鈥� the target of much criticism from Trump during his 2017-2021 presidency.
鈥淚 for one think that the European Union is an incredibly strong and vibrant entity, that has a lot to do with the ability of Western Europe not only to handle its economic issues but provide the backbone and support for NATO,鈥� Biden said.