Macron moves to smoothe over tensions with Trump on European defence

Trump has demanded that NATO countries spend more on their own defence and questioned whether the US should remain in the alliance

French President Emmanuel Macron moved to smooth over ruffled relations with Donald Trump after the US president took offense at his proposal Europe create its own continental military force.

Macron received Trump at the Elysee Palace on a wet Saturday morning in Paris ahead of a weekend of commemorations with world leaders to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I.

But while both leaders flashed thumbs up signs as they met, their first task was to deal with a public spat. In a radio interview this week, Macron said that a “strong and sovereign Europe” was needed to