This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-46162052

The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Armistice Day: Trump blasts Macron hours before Paris meeting Armistice Day: Trump blasts Macron hours before Paris meeting
(35 minutes later)
President Donald Trump lashed out at his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, after arriving in Paris to commemorate the end of World War One. President Donald Trump is holding talks with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in Paris, ahead of events marking the end of World War One.
On Twitter, Mr Trump said it was "very insulting" that his host had called for a joint EU army to handle threats from the US, China and Russia. The pair are set to discuss issues including Iran, the conflicts in Syria and Yemen, climate change, and trade.
Mr Macron said on Tuesday that Europe "had to protect itself". A day before the meeting, Mr Trump lashed out at his host for saying the EU needed a joint army to handle threats from the US, China and Russia.
The two men are currently meeting for scheduled talks ahead of events commemorating the 1914-18 war. Mr Trump branded the suggestion "very insulting" in an angry tweet.
Around 70 world leaders are gathering in Paris for events marking the Armistice that ended World War One, which was signed 100 years ago this Sunday.Around 70 world leaders are gathering in Paris for events marking the Armistice that ended World War One, which was signed 100 years ago this Sunday.
What did Macron say?What did Macron say?
President Macron has previously warned that Europeans can no longer rely on the US to defend them, and returned to the theme on Tuesday during a visit to the former Western Front in Verdun.President Macron has previously warned that Europeans can no longer rely on the US to defend them, and returned to the theme on Tuesday during a visit to the former Western Front in Verdun.
"We have to protect ourselves with respect to China, Russia and even the United States of America," he told French radio station Europe 1."We have to protect ourselves with respect to China, Russia and even the United States of America," he told French radio station Europe 1.
"Who is the main victim? Europe and its security. I want to build a real security dialogue with Russia, which is a country I respect, a European country - but we must have a Europe that can defend itself on its own without relying only on the United States.""Who is the main victim? Europe and its security. I want to build a real security dialogue with Russia, which is a country I respect, a European country - but we must have a Europe that can defend itself on its own without relying only on the United States."
Russia's President Vladimir Putin will be among world leaders marking the Armistice in Paris.Russia's President Vladimir Putin will be among world leaders marking the Armistice in Paris.
President Trump's Friday night rebuke read: "President Macron of France has just suggested that Europe build its own military in order to protect itself from the US, China and Russia. Very insulting, but perhaps Europe should first pay its fair share of NATO, which the US subsidizes greatly!"President Trump's Friday night rebuke read: "President Macron of France has just suggested that Europe build its own military in order to protect itself from the US, China and Russia. Very insulting, but perhaps Europe should first pay its fair share of NATO, which the US subsidizes greatly!"
Mr Macron has already raised defence spending considerably to meet Nato targets.Mr Macron has already raised defence spending considerably to meet Nato targets.
He is also overseeing the formation of a European rapid reaction force, a nine-country endeavour much smaller than an actual army, which is backed by Germany and the UK. He is also overseeing the formation of a European rapid reaction force, a nine-nation endeavour much smaller than an actual army, which is backed by Germany and the UK.
Asked about his critical tweet on Saturday, Mr Trump said Europe must be "fair" with the US over the shared cost of defence.
"We want a strong Europe, it's very important to us," he said, but added, "right now the burden sharing has been largely on the United States".
Mr Macron said it was right that Europe should "take responsibility".
"When President Trump has to protect one of the states of the United States he doesn't ask France or Germany or another country to finance. That's why I do believe that we need more investments," he said.
What's the weekend line-up?What's the weekend line-up?
Trump and Macron were slated to hold talks on issues including Yemen, Syria and Iran, before their wives Melania and Brigitte join them for lunch. After an hour of talks, Trump and Macron will be joined by their wives Melania and Brigitte for lunch.
On Saturday afternoon, Mr Macron will meet Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel in the town of Compiegne in northern France, where the Allies and Germany signed the Armistice.On Saturday afternoon, Mr Macron will meet Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel in the town of Compiegne in northern France, where the Allies and Germany signed the Armistice.
Visiting heads of state will gather for a dinner in Paris in the evening. Visiting heads of state will then gather for a dinner in Paris in the evening.
Donald Trump is expected to visit two American cemeteries over the weekend, ahead of a sombre commemoration at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a memorial to France's fallen under the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.Donald Trump is expected to visit two American cemeteries over the weekend, ahead of a sombre commemoration at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a memorial to France's fallen under the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
Tweeting early on Saturday morning, he remarked: "Is there anything better to celebrate than the end of a war, in particular that one, which was one of the bloodiest and worst of all time?"Tweeting early on Saturday morning, he remarked: "Is there anything better to celebrate than the end of a war, in particular that one, which was one of the bloodiest and worst of all time?"
Sunday afternoon will see Mr Macron and Mrs Merkel attend a peace conference - the Paris Peace Forum - with leaders including Mr Putin and Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan.Sunday afternoon will see Mr Macron and Mrs Merkel attend a peace conference - the Paris Peace Forum - with leaders including Mr Putin and Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Mr Trump is not attending, however, which his National Security Advisor John Bolton put down to a diary full of "pressing issues". Mr Trump will not be present, however, which his National Security Advisor John Bolton put down to a diary full of "pressing issues".
The Armistice 100 years onThe Armistice 100 years on
Long read: The forgotten female soldier on the forgotten frontlineLong read: The forgotten female soldier on the forgotten frontline
Video: War footage brought alive in colourVideo: War footage brought alive in colour
Interactive: What would you have done between 1914 and 1918?Interactive: What would you have done between 1914 and 1918?
Living history: Why 'indecent' Armistice Day parties endedLiving history: Why 'indecent' Armistice Day parties ended
Will Trump meet Putin?Will Trump meet Putin?
The status of this proposed meeting has changed repeatedly in recent weeks.The status of this proposed meeting has changed repeatedly in recent weeks.
On Wednesday the Kremlin said the pair would hold a "short working lunch" at the Élysée Palace in Paris, but the US contradicted that the same day.On Wednesday the Kremlin said the pair would hold a "short working lunch" at the Élysée Palace in Paris, but the US contradicted that the same day.
"I don't think we have anything scheduled in Paris and I'm coming back very quickly," the president said. "I don't think we have time set aside for that meeting.""I don't think we have anything scheduled in Paris and I'm coming back very quickly," the president said. "I don't think we have time set aside for that meeting."
The two men may meet at a lunch for world leaders on Sunday, but it remains to be seen if a more formal discussion will ultimately materialise.The two men may meet at a lunch for world leaders on Sunday, but it remains to be seen if a more formal discussion will ultimately materialise.