Macron emerges on global stage as Trump keen on 'America First' only

French President Emmanuel Macron seems poised to take over the leadership of the Western world from the present bankrupt American leadership. President Donald Trump's  reckless doctrine of 'America First'  signals waning geopolitical influence of the US. This was reflected in the US' withdrawal from the Paris Climate accord of 2015 (lately Trump has signalled a change of heart and the possibility of supporting the accord) and the 11-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact, apart from flip-flap on the international nuclear agreement with Iran.

As a matter of fact, the US dominated the world in the 20th Century.  But, the country could not make much of a headway in global diplomatic arena since Trump took over the administration in January, 2017.

The French President is likely to follow the footprints of Cardinal Richelieu who had introduced modern approach to international relations on the basis of nation-state while serving national interests as the ultimate goal. The clergyman-cum-Foreign Secretary dominated his country's history in the 17th Century.

That President Macron may emerge as the world leader was reflected in his New Year address to the French diplomatic corps. In his speech on January 03 from Elysee Palace, he said France would remain active on the international stage while maintaining independence and promoting solidarity with other nations as a part of the French foreign policy. "While combating Jihadists in the Sahel in Africa, our other challenges are to turn road of misery into road towards freedom," the French president exhorted his diplomats.

Macron has already initiated action toward implementing the Paris climate change agreement of 2015 by holding a summit of political leaders and business magnates on December 12, 2017 in Paris. Around 50 world leaders,

including  Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and business magnates, attended the One Planet Summit to celebrate the two-year anniversary of the adoption of the historic Paris Accord. Significantly, the US President was not invited.

The French President also invited President Mahmood Abbas of the Palestine Authority to discuss the present stalemate in two-state solution of the Palestine-Israeli dispute following Trump's unilateral declaration of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. This single action of Trump has  destroyed US credibility as an impartial mediator in the Palestine-Israeli conflict. Macron criticised Trump's decision. The French President met Turkish President Erdogan on January 05 to discuss the tense situation between Turkey and the European Union (EU).  And he stated in clear terms that any promise to accept Turkey as a full-fledged member of the EU would be hypocrisy as the country flouted rule of law and freedom of expression.

In November last year, Macron intervened and put pressure on the Saudi monarch to release Prime Minister  Saad Hariri of Lebanon and allow him to visit Paris and resume his position in Lebanon. Hariri later resumed his responsibility. It may be noted that following the fall of the Ottoman Empire during the First World War, both Lebanon and Syria had become colonies of France.

Macron, accompanied by his wife Brigitte and 50 executives of top French firms, had a three-day official visit to China from January 08 making a new stage for his diplomacy in Asia. France had been concentrated in Europe and Africa in recent past. The French President made a surprise gift of 'Horse' to Chinese President Xi Jinping  - introducing 'Horse diplomacy' in response  to Chinese 'Panda diplomacy'.  Macron showed interest in Chinese Silk Road diplomacy. He visited Xian, the starting-point of ancient Silk Road, and urged the European countries to join the project of China. At Xian, the French President spoke for an hour at the Daming Palace, former seat of the Tang dynasty. He also visited the Forbidden City and famous Terracotta.

Amid crisis in the Korean peninsula and tense relations among China, Europe and the United States, the visit of China by Macron to expand trade relations between France and China  was significant indeed. The French President praised the Chinese leader for taking effective steps to control carbon emission.

Having taken over the French administration, Macron availed trips to a number of African countries, which had been French colonies in the 18th Century, to seek apology for 'imperial behaviour' of France in line with his political guru  President Barack Obama. Obama said in Cairo on January 04, 2009: "I have come here to seek a new beginning between the US and the Muslims around the world, one based upon mutual interest and mutual respect and one based upon the truth that America and Islam are not exclusive, and need not be in competition." It may be noted that Obama's political campaign was followed by Macron during his election campaign in France. Obama, then US President, endorsed his candidature in May of 2017 by saying that "the French election is very much important to the future of France and values that we care so much about because success of France matters to the entire world."

In a similar vein, Macron advised Chinese President Xi to avoid what he called French- African mistake during colonialism. He told the Chinese leaders to get the Europe-China partnership into the 21st Century.

In Asia, China is a growing military and economic powerhouse. Cooperation between Europe and China in trade in particular would be a win-win development. The French farmers have expressed satisfaction when they heard that the Chinese authority assured Macron of withdrawing its ban on importing French beef which was imposed in 2001.

Macron told Xi Jinping: "China and Europe should work together on the Belt and Road Initiative. The methods consist of listening, proposing, advancing and building trust, to create together the   way for fidelity, reciprocity." It seems a new world order is emerging following Macron's foreign policy initiatives.

The writer is a retired diplomat from Bangladesh.

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