France's Macron visits Trump

Reuters

April 24, 2018

US resident Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron have emphasised pomp and ceremony as Macron begins a state visit to Washington likely to be dominated by differences over trade and the nuclear accord with Iran.

As Macron headed to the US, the Iranian government urged European leaders to convince Trump not to tear up the 2015 deal between Tehran and six world powers.

The French president said on Sunday there was no "Plan B" for keeping a lid on Tehran's nuclear ambitions.

He is on something of a rescue mission for what is formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which Trump has said he will scrap unless European allies fix by mid-May what he called "terrible flaws."

"This visit is very important in our current context, with so many uncertainties, troubles and at times threats," Macron said as he arrived in Washington.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called on European leaders to support the agreement.

"It is either all or nothing. European leaders should encourage Trump not just to stay in the nuclear deal, but more important to begin implementing his part of the bargain in good faith," Zarif wrote on Twitter.

The deal reached between six powers and Tehran put curbs on Iran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.

Macron has said it would be better to protect the deal instead of getting rid of it.

"Is this agreement perfect and this JCPOA a perfect thing for our relationship with Iran? No. But for nuclear, what do you have as a better option? I don't see it," he said.

Macron and his wife, Brigitte, brought with them an oak tree sapling for planting on the South Lawn of the White House. The tree came from the Belleau Woods, site of a World War I battle in 1918 where 9000 Americans died.

Trump and Macron shovelled dirt on the freshly planted tree as the cameras clicked. "France is a very special country," said Trump. "It's a great honour."

Trump and his wife, Melania, and the Macrons then flew aboard Trump's Marine One helicopter to dine at Mount Vernon, the Virginia home of George Washington, the first US president and Revolutionary War commander whose alliance with France was critical to victory over the British.

Working meetings will be held at the White House on Tuesday before Macron addresses the US Congress the following day.

Macron wants to persuade Trump to exempt European nations from metal tariffs that are part of the US president's plan to reduce chronic trade deficits with countries around the world, chiefly China.

Macron and Trump are also due to discuss Syria less than two weeks after the US, France and Britain launched air strikes there in retaliation for a suspected chemical weapons attack that killed dozens.

Macron said last week he believed he had persuaded Trump to keep US troops in Syria, though Trump has been insistent on bringing them home.