The US ambassador to France is looking to calm the diplomatic row – National

The US ambassador to France sought on Tuesday to resolve a diplomatic row with Paris, calling the French foreign minister who had said earlier in the day that the US ambassador would lose access to French government officials after skipping a meeting.

French authorities have summoned Ambassador Charles Kushner – the father of US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner – over comments by the Trump administration that were disputed by France. But Kushner did not attend Monday night’s meeting, the State Department said.

After French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said Tuesday morning that a no-show would hurt the embassy in France, Kushner called the minister and agreed to meet in the coming days, his office said.

The US ambassador in Paris said in a statement after the call that Kushner and Barrot “spoke today frankly and peacefully, reaffirming their mutual commitment to work together, ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​and all other French ministers and officials, on many issues that affect the United States and France, especially as the two countries celebrate 250 years of rich diplomatic relations.”

This issue was started by the Trump administration’s tweets about the killing of the French activist, Quentin Deranque. The 23-year-old student, described as a nationalist, was beaten by a group of people earlier this month in the city of Lyon, in a fight that broke out between far-left and far-right activists. He later died of brain damage.

In a letter written last week to X, the State Department’s Counterterrorism Bureau said “violent incidents are increasing and their role in the death of Quentin Deranque demonstrates the threat they pose to public safety.”

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The American embassy in Paris sent a similar statement, in French.

The government in Paris was shocked by what it considered interference in French affairs and summoned Kushner. The ambassador then called Barrot on Tuesday after the ambassador appeared to help open the page.

Barrot also told the ambassador that France cannot accept foreign interference, the minister’s office said. Kushner “recognized, expressed his determination not to interfere in our public debate, and remembered the friendship that unites France and the United States,” he said. They agreed to meet in the coming days, he said.

Before the call, Barrot had described the game as a “miracle” that flew in the face of a diplomatic deal.

“It will interfere with his ability to do his job in our country,” said Barrot, speaking to public broadcaster France Info.

He said that Kushner “brings difficulties to himself. Because in order for the ambassador to be able to do his job, he needs access to members of the government. That is the basis.

“There is nothing more common than calling the embassy when explanations are needed,” he said. “Once these clarifications are made, the American ambassador in France will, naturally, regain access to members of the French government.”

“We do not accept that foreign countries can come and interfere, invite themselves, in the national political debate,” he said.

Barrot has previously made it clear that the fallout should not harm broader US-France relations.

“Not coming is his personal responsibility,” he said. “It does not affect the relationship between France and the United States in any way.”

Last August, Paris also summoned Kushner for a letter he wrote to French President Emmanuel Macron saying that France had not done enough to fight discrimination. The State Department called his allegations “unacceptable.”

Meanwhile, Kushner also did not respond to the summons but sent his number 2 instead.

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