WASHINGTON — I lived for a long time in a France where nothing was possible. Not that the country did not change; it did, but France was more interested in resisting change in order to cling to what it had. This France meandered into the 21st century, a still significant but increasingly marginal power, when, out of nowhere, along comes Mr. Watching him the other day, speaking on the record and without notes to a small group of journalists at the conclusion of a three-day love-in with President Donald Trump, the thought that came to mind was: The world owes one to France, big time. Macron is playing the long game with an irascible Trump, whose views are not his.

Source: New York Times April 27, 2018 09:45 UTC