Latest news with #Franco-British
Indian Express
16-07-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Trump 2.0 is upending US ties. De-coupling may be hard – de-risking is necessary
Sections of the Indian foreign policy community feel 'betrayed' by the Donald Trump administration, which has found unexpected affection for Rawalpindi, raised a host of tough demands on trade, and threatened additional tariffs on India because of its BRICS membership and continued purchase of Russian oil. It is, perhaps, a small consolation that India is not alone. America's neighbours and largest trading partners (Mexico and Canada) and its longstanding allies in Europe and Asia have even more reasons to feel betrayed. Most of these alliances date back to the end of World War II and have weathered multiple crises over the past eight decades. But as in life, so in international relations — nothing is forever. If change is the only constant, that moment of restructuring has now arrived for America's alliances and partnerships in Europe and Asia. As a non-ally, India is better prepared for change in America. The idea of 'strategic autonomy', long central to India's foreign policy, has been viewed with scepticism by India's Western partners. They have argued that India's near obsession with autonomy limits the scope for strategic cooperation with the US and Europe. But today, 'strategic autonomy' has become the new mantra among America's allies themselves. In his address to the British Parliament last week, French President Emmanuel Macron reflected on the implications of the unprecedented disruption unleashed by President Trump's second term. He underlined the need for deeper Franco-British cooperation to reduce what he called the 'dual dependency' on the US and China. Macron warned against Europe's excessive reliance on the two superpowers for economic, technological, and security needs, and emphasised the urgency of reclaiming European strategic autonomy. He called for stronger Franco-British collaboration on defence, climate action, migration and technological innovation, suggesting that only through unity can Europe effectively respond to global challenges and safeguard its interests. Although America's European allies bent over backwards to placate 'daddy' Trump at the NATO summit last month, they are shocked by the Trump administration's policies. If there were any lingering doubts, Trump dispelled them over the weekend by imposing a 30 per cent tariff on imports from the European Union, shattering hopes for compromise on trade. Trump has long regarded the EU as a bigger economic threat than China but few anticipated that transatlantic ties would deteriorate so sharply in his second term. Britain's Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, may lack the rhetorical flair of his French counterpart but he, too, is seeking to rebalance the 'special relationship' with the US against the geographic imperative of Europe. If Brexit a decade ago was about distancing from Europe and reconnecting with the Anglosphere, Starmer's Labour government is working to rebuild links with the Continent. Trump, despite his family origins in the UK, has little affection for Britain. His MAGA coalition looks down on its 'poorer cousins' in the British Isles. The story is no different in Asia, where two of America's staunchest allies are seething over Trump's actions. The announcement of 25 per cent tariffs on Japanese imports triggered rare outrage within Japan's political class, which has placed nearly all its strategic bets on the US since World War II. It was remarkable, therefore, to hear the Japanese PM declare that Tokyo must reduce its dependence on Washington. He made it clear that Japan would not offer 'easy concessions' or compromise its national interests in the face of US pressure. To be sure, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is in the midst of an upper house election campaign this week. But this is not mere campaign rhetoric. He stressed that Japan, as the largest foreign investor in the US and a major creator of American jobs, deserves different treatment from countries targeted by the tariffs. Despite months of negotiations, repeated diplomatic missions to Washington, and a pledge of $1 trillion in new investment, Ishiba's government could not persuade Trump to hold back, especially as the US President remained dissatisfied with Japan's market access for American rice and automobiles. Equally emphatic about strategic autonomy has been Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Few countries have been as close to Washington as Australia. Yet, in a major speech last week, Albanese insisted that being an ally does not mean being a blind follower. He described the US alliance as a 'pillar' of Australian foreign policy but argued that this partnership should not constrain Australia's sovereignty or decision-making. He called for an 'Australia first' approach — particularly relevant amid intensifying US-China rivalry in the Indo-Pacific. As it happens, Albanese is in China this week, stepping up efforts to engage Australia's Asian neighbours. The frustration among allies does not mean they can simply walk away from Washington. All America's partners have enormous stakes in sustaining their economic and technological ties with the US. Even more important, their security challenges would become far more demanding without American guarantees. If Europe must find new ways to defend itself against Russia, Asian allies must devise strategies to cope with Chinese power. America's Eurasian partners will not simply fold their hands — they will search for creative answers. In Europe, France and Britain are discussing better coordination of their nuclear weapons policies, while the EU is accelerating collective defence efforts. In Asia, the challenge is harder. Unlike in Europe, regional institutions remain underdeveloped, and the gap between China's power and that of its neighbours is vast. Yet, the logic of diversification is undeniable. We are already seeing Asian allies doing more with each other and engaging other actors, such as the EU. Some are beginning to reassess their engagement with China. At the same time, the depth of the US relationship is such that preventing a slide into outright rupture remains a top priority for allies in both Asia and Europe. As Macron told the British Parliament, Europe does not want to walk away from the US — but it must 'de-risk' ties by finding new partners and rebuilding its own capacities. India, for its part, is holding its nerve and continuing to engage Washington. As Delhi weighs the consequences of the Trump upheaval for Eurasia and the global order, it is worth recalling that India has managed many strategic surprises before: The Chinese 'betrayal' in 1962, Beijing's embrace of Pakistan, the Sino-Soviet split, the US-China entente in the 1970s, the Soviet collapse in 1991, the rise of a new economic order in the 1990s, and the Russia-China alignment in the 2000s. If external change is inevitable, Delhi's focus must be on managing it rather than bemoaning it. For now, India remains one of the few major US trade partners not yet notified of a new tariff level. Delhi has resumed trade talks with Washington this week and is eager to conclude one of its most ambitious negotiations before the August 1 deadline. But it must be prepared for failure. As Trump might remind us, the golden rule of any negotiation is the will to walk away. The writer is distinguished fellow at the Council for Strategic and Defence Research, Delhi, and contributing editor on international affairs for The Indian Express
Otago Daily Times
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Original Birkin bag sells for record $16m
The original bag custom-made for actress Jane Birkin, which became one of the era-defining designs of the 20th century, has been sold for a record amount. The bag fetched $US10.04 million ($NZ16.7 million) last week, auctioneer Sotheby's said. According to fashion lore, the first Birkin bag was born when the Franco-British actress and singer sat next to Hermes executive Jean-Louis Dumas on a flight in 1984 and told him she needed a stylish yet functional bag as a young mother. Jane Birkin with her bag from Hermes. The bag is one of the most sought-after luxury items worldwide. Dumas immediately sketched out the rectangular handbag, with a dedicated space for baby bottles. The company made that one for her, then started selling smaller versions to the public. The design became a hit and has helped fuel the growth of the fashion brand. Regular Birkin bags sell for more than $US10,000 ($NZ16,700). The first one - which has Birkin's J. B. initials on the flap and, unlike its descendants, has a strap that cannot be removed - was bought by a private Japanese buyer over the phone, Sotheby's said. The price was the highest on record for a fashion item, it added. "It was a travel bag. Clearly, it was worn for nine years by Jane Birkin on a daily basis and the form is still very beautiful," Aurelie Vassy, head of the Handbags and Fashion Department at Sotheby's Europe and Middle East, told Reuters. The Birkin was bought by a private Japanese buyer. Photo: Reuters Birkin auctioned the bag in 1994 to support Sidaction, a French charity that fights HIV/AIDS. In 2000, when it went on sale again, a private French collector bought it. When British-born Birkin died in 2023, the French capital's mayor, Anne Hidalgo, said the "most Parisian of the English has left us". Birkin had lived in her adopted France since the late 1960s and was remembered as much for her warmth and campaigning as for her acting and singing, most famously on the hit single Je t'aime... moi non plus.
Express Tribune
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Original Birkin sells for $10 million
The original bag custom-made for actress Jane Birkin - which went on to inspire one of the most iconic accessories in modern fashion history - sold for a record 8.6 million ($10.04 million) at a Sotheby's auction in Paris on Thursday. According to fashion lore, the first Birkin bag was created after the Franco-British actor and singer sat beside Hermès executive Jean-Louis Dumas on a flight in 1984 and mentioned she needed a bag that was both elegant and functional for her life as a young mother. Dumas reportedly sketched the concept mid-flight, designing a rectangular handbag with space specifically for baby bottles. Hermès produced that prototype for Birkin, later releasing smaller versions to the public. The now-legendary design quickly gained popularity and became a cornerstone of the brand's identity and commercial success. Standard Birkin bags today retail for over $10,000, but this original — which features Birkin's "JB" initials on the flap and a non-detachable shoulder strap, unlike later versions — was sold by phone to a private buyer in Japan, according to Sotheby's. The final bid set a new record for the most expensive fashion item ever sold at auction. "It was a travel bag. Clearly, it was worn for nine years by Jane Birkin on a daily basis, and the form is still very beautiful," said Aurélie Vassy, head of the Handbags and Fashion Department at Sotheby's Europe and Middle East, in an interview with Reuters. Birkin originally auctioned the bag in 1994 to raise funds for Sidaction, a French charity supporting the fight against HIV/AIDS. It changed hands again in 2000, when a private French collector purchased it. When Jane Birkin passed away in 2023, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo called her the "most Parisian of the English," a tribute to her deep connection with the French capital. Born in the United Kingdom, Birkin moved to France in the late 1960s and became known not just for her work in film and music - particularly the provocative hit Je t'aime moi non plus - but also for her activism and humanitarian contributions. Reuters
Gulf Today
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf Today
Original Birkin bag sells at auction for record $10 million
The original bag custom-made for actress Jane Birkin, which became one of the era-defining designs of the 20th century, was sold in Paris on Thursday for a record 8.6 million euros ($10.04 million), auctioneer Sotheby's said. According to fashion lore, the first Birkin bag was born when the Franco-British actress and singer sat next to Hermes executive Jean-Louis Dumas on a flight in 1984 and told him she needed a stylish yet functional bag as a young mother. Dumas immediately sketched out the rectangular handbag, with a dedicated space for baby bottles. The company made that one for her, then started selling smaller versions to the public. The design became a hit and has helped fuel the growth of the fashion brand. Former owner of the original Birkin bag created by Hermès for Jane Birkin, Catherine C, who does not want to release her family name, from France, reacts after the bag was sold at auction. AP Regular Birkin bags sell for more than $10,000. The first one - which has Birkin's J. B. initials on the flap and, unlike its descendants, has a strap that cannot be removed - was bought by a private Japanese buyer over the phone, Sotheby's said. The price was the highest on record for a fashion item, it added. "It was a travel bag. Clearly, it was worn for nine years by Jane Birkin on a daily basis and the form is still very beautiful," Aurelie Vassy, head of the Handbags and Fashion Department at Sotheby's Europe and Middle East, told Reuters. This combination of pictures created on July 09, 2025 shows the 'Birkin' bag by Hermes which belonged to British-French actress and singer Jane Birkin at the Sotheby's auction house in Paris. AFP Birkin auctioned the bag in 1994 to support Sidaction, a French charity that fights HIV/Aids. In 2000, when it went on sale again, a private French collector bought it. When British-born Birkin died in 2023, the French capital's mayor, Anne Hidalgo, said the "most Parisian of the English has left us." Birkin had lived in her adopted France since the late 1960s and was remembered as much for her warmth and campaigning as for her acting and singing, most famously on the hit single "Je t' non plus.' Reuters
Spectator
11-07-2025
- Business
- Spectator
How Macron triumphed over Starmer
'Small boats' are the big talking point from this week's Franco-British summit. The consensus is that there are slim pickings for Britain, and the reason why is simple: France negotiates according to its interests, Britain negotiates according to the Chagos template. France's president Emmanuel Macron had little incentive to agree anything but a symbolic 'returns' agreement with Sir Keir Starmer. Most of the French political class, public opinion and 'humanitarian' organisations do not support Britain returning migrants to France. Nor for that matter do other EU states. Why would they? What then was Macron seeking from the summit? The French president is still smarting from Brexit The French president is still smarting from Brexit, as he all but confessed first to Parliament then at the summit's press conference. The Aukus pact between Australia, the UK and US cutting the French out of Australian submarine construction, is another open wound. Macron wants his pound of flesh. He cut some from more arcane aspects of the Franco-British summit. First, on aerospace Starmer agreed to inject 163 million euros (£140 million) into the French-led, Paris-based Eutelsat satellite business, hoping to challenge Elon Musk's Starlink. Eutelsat's 2022 take-over of Britain's low orbit internet satellite network One Web was disingenuously badged as a merger. The French state now has a majority stake and the inevitable is happening. Despite One Web being headquartered in the UK and Britain having a thriving satellite industry, the next generation of Eutelsat satellites will be built in France. Little surprise that Macron posted impishly on social media: 'Thanks to our British friends as they continue to follow us on the Eutelsat adventure!'. 'Follow' being the operative word, Sir Keir also obliged in the expansion of the present day 10,000 strong Franco-British Combined Joint Expeditionary force, created by the 2010 Lancaster House agreements and originally commanded from Northwood in the UK, being expanded to 50,000 and headquartered in Paris. The supplicant Prime Minister conceded to Macron on nuclear issues. Much play has been made of Paris and London agreeing henceforth to coordinate their use of nuclear weapons, while retaining sovereign independence over their use. This is a personal win for Macron, whose neutered status in French domestic politics is combatted by his increased activism internationally. Macron will claim credit for securing the British nuclear deterrent as protection for the EU, thereby legitimising France as the rightful claimant to the role of Europe's defence supremo. But at the more secretive nuclear level, one fears further Starmer concessions. A little mentioned dimension of Franco-British defence collaboration, signed with the 2010 Lancaster House agreements, is the 'Teutates Treaty'. Here, the two states pledged collaboration on highly sophisticated nuclear weapons technology. Key to this is joint manufacture and operation of inordinately expensive computer equipment for military nuclear simulation and testing. This is vital to the upgrading of either state's nuclear warheads in compliance with the international Nuclear Test Ban treaty. The billions pledged in 2010 have been discreetly drawn from the nuclear heading of the two countries defence budgets. France benefitted greatly from Teutates. Forced by international opinion to stop undersea nuclear testing in the South Pacific in 1996, France needed to catch up on computer-generated nuclear test simulation, which Britain, with the Americans, had used for years. Unsurprisingly, the centre for this joint research was based in France, not Britain, at Valduc near Dijon. Joint French and UK teams carry out state-of-the-art nuclear weapons simulation on the MERLIN flash X-ray radiographic machine, built at the Atomic Weapons Establishment at Aldermaston and shipped to France. As France prides itself – with some licence – on its independently manufactured and controlled nuclear deterrent, much French literature on the EPURE facility omits close cooperation with Britain. Starmer and Macron's closer nuclear collaboration will doubtless mean further expensive funding of the French EPURE facility, with Britain becoming ever more dependent on French goodwill for the upkeep of its nuclear deterrent. Will Macron have hinted to the gullible Starmer that in the Trumpian world France would be best sharing construction of Britain's home produced and designed nuclear warheads? One wonders further whether deal-maker Starmer countenances an eventual French replacement for the American Trident nuclear missile delivery system in Britain's nuclear deterrent? More British dependence on France for its ultimate protection inexorably leads to erosion of British sovereignty. Starmer's craving for a 'reset' with the EU made a Macron win at the summit effortless. But that will not suffice to heal Macron's Brexito-Aukus scars. Though they did not sign that treaty, Keir Starmer and British civil servants would do well to recall that the treaty's name 'Teutates' was also that of a Celtic god to whom the Gauls made human sacrifices.
