Is Trump-Macron relationship at rupture point?

US PRESIDENT Donald Trump visits Paris on Thursday, on the last and potentially most consequential leg of his European trip, to see his "great" friend Emmanuel Macron. However, while the mood music will be upbeat, there are growing signs that relations between the presidents are chilling with key international implications, including for the French-hosted G-7 summit in August.

In the first two years of Mr Macron's presidency, relations between the two leaders of vastly different ages and political philosophies had been intriguing for the apparent close political bonds that they have forged. Part of this appears to be have based around Mr Macron's careful outreach to Mr Trump, sensing an opportunity to sway US thinking and elevate France in global affairs, and potentially preventing the US president from feeling isolated or backed into a corner on key issues from global warming to international trade.

Mr Trump reciprocated this sentiment inviting Mr Macron last year to a state visit in Washington. The two share political positioning as perceived insurgent outsiders with a business background. Moreover, they have a number of shared international objectives, including in countering international terrorism with France, for instance, the second largest contributor to the US-led coalition in Syria.