French President Emmanuel Macron had an especially tall order on his recent visit to New York. From there, he went to the United Nations General Assembly. As his motorcade barreled down to the meeting, it unexpectedly hit a wall. TOM ALEXANDER Security measures for former President Donald Trump’s motorcade had the road totally blocked off. This unforeseen challenge created a rare chain of events that underscored the intricacies of international diplomacy.
On the day of that assembly, Macron’s motorcade was suddenly stopped by a street blocked off in preparation for Trump’s arrival. To try to speed up his route, bothered by the odious things, Macron tried to make a deal with the police officer controlling the zone. But no matter how hard he tried, he wasn’t able to convince law enforcement to move the route through ahead of time.
In a lighthearted response to their joint exasperation, Macron took a more dramatic step and agreed to call Trump himself. He was behind a surprising phone call in which he allegedly announced to someone on the other end, “You know what? This remark underscores the often informal and personal nature of interactions between world leaders, even when faced with logistical hurdles.
The previous day, Macron had taken an unscheduled half-hour stroll through the streets. At last he was able to get around the clogged main street and be on his way to his meeting. His resolute stance served to underscore the persistence required in disruptive new eras of diplomacy. This became especially apparent during international flash points such as the UN General Assembly.
Once on stage at the assembly, Macron peppered his remarks with applause-grabbing innovations and rhetoric. He took a bold step in foreign policy by formally recognizing a Palestinian state. This declaration represented the beginning of a new era in his presidency. It sought to radically change the conversation around peace in the Middle East.