Nicolas Sarkozy has just arrived at Heathrow for his much-anticipated state visit to Britain. No doubt it will be deemed a success by all concerned, even if the media spotlight falls more on his wife Carla Bruni than the hyperactive French President himself.
There'll doubtless be agreement on a whole range of issues tomorrow when Sarkozy meets Gordon Brown - including the global economic turbulence, Darfur, immigration and nuclear power. I'm sure they will bond personally: they are not strangers as they got to know each other when they were finance ministers.
But on other issues we might just be able to spot the differences. The one to watch is defence. Sarkozy wants to use France's turn in the European Union's presidency in the second half of the year to extend EU defence co-operation.
Brown is cautious. "The Prime Minister is very clear that Nato is the cornerstone of our defence," Brown's official spokesman said today, although adding that there could be improved co-operation between the EU and NATO.
Europhiles will fear that Brown, despite the public smiles and handshakes with his French counterpart, may be missing a trick - a new Entente Cordiale that could set the EU'a agenda. The opportunity arises because Sarkozy has a strained relationship with Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor. "Sarko and Merkel can't agree on anything," one British official told me.
What language will they be speaking together? I'm guessing English, but it would be nice to hear that Gordon B made an effort to speak his guest's language. In fact, does Gordon speak anything other than English? And the rest of the cabinet?
Posted by: Jakers | Wednesday, 26 March 2008 at 12:45 PM
Tony Blair n'etait pas mal du tout en francais
Posted by: Rob Dowling | Wednesday, 26 March 2008 at 01:36 PM
http://www.waynemadsenreport.com/downloads/20070610/download
Just a soundtrack of Sarko speaking amazingly poor English to the US Congress.
Not only the accent and delivery, but the message is very "simple" .
Sarko's military experience consisted of a couple of hours floorsweeping a day, in the Airforce, so ideally suited to send more troops to Afghanistan, bomb Iran, etcetc
Posted by: dave | Wednesday, 26 March 2008 at 01:51 PM
Sarko ne parle pas anglais which is why he couldn't get rid of the photographers when he was in America, and they got too close for his liking when he was on a "personal" holiday, back when he was still with Cécilia.
Posted by: Elaine | Wednesday, 26 March 2008 at 04:22 PM
Tony Blair was (is) more than 'pas mal du tout' in French. Actually his French was (is) pretty good. He addressed the French audience right after Sarko's election through the Web, delivering a message in Moliere's tongue. It was an extremely decent and friendly thing to do to start with (and many of my French compatriots feel the same about that,I am sure). But also he poved how well he masters the language, although he had obviously learnt his text by heart beforehand.
(given it was a text not of plain and ordinary French, but of a litterary quality).
Vive Tony !
Posted by: Laurent | Wednesday, 26 March 2008 at 06:18 PM
Brilliant headline. Stole it.
There was an article in the Times or Telegraph about the most unpopular national leaders getting together to pretend they have important and hence glamourous friends.
Posted by: Dave Gould | Friday, 28 March 2008 at 12:01 AM