Trump and Macron meet in Paris
The Presidents of the United States and France are at odds over European defence, after Trump said Macron's calls for a European Army were insulting.
The United States wants a "strong Europe" and is willing to help its ally, but Europe must be fair when it comes to sharing the defence burden, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday.
"We want a strong Europe, it's very important to us and whichever way we can do it the best and more efficient would be something we both want," Trump said in remarks after being greeted by President Emmanuel Macron in Paris.
Asked what he meant when he tweeted that he felt insulted by Macron's comments that Europe should reduce its dependence on the United States for security, Trump said: "We want to help Europe but it has to be fair. Right now the burden sharing has been largely on the United States."
French President Emmanuel Macron said Europe had to take greater responsibility for its own defence, saying he agreed with U.S. President Donald Trump on the need for greater "burden sharing" by Europe in NATO.
"I am obviously going to share with President Trump the proposals made on Europe's strategic defence capabilities and the need for a Europe that is able to take on more of the common burden at the heart of NATO," Macron said ahead of talks with Trump at the Elysee Palace.
Trump is in France for two days of commemorations around the 100th anniversary of the end of World War one.
Published: by Radio NewsHub