Macron's proposal for EU army 'very insulting': Trump
Washington, Nov 10 : US President Donald Trump Saturday said the suggestion of his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron that Europe should build its own army was "very insulting", asserting that Europe should first pay its "fair share" to NATO.
Trump slammed Macron in a tweet, moments after he landed in Paris for a weekend trip to commemorate Armistice Day and attend the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, which is being attended by several world leaders, including India's Vice President Venkaiah Naidu.
"President Macron of France has just suggested that Europe build its own military in order to protect itself from the U.S., China and Russia. Very insulting, but perhaps Europe should first pay its fair share of NATO, which the U.S. subsidizes greatly!" he said in a tweet.
Early this week, Macron had pushed for a "true European Army" that would address the threat posed by countries like Russia and China.
"We have to protect ourselves with respect to China, Russia and even the United States of America," he told French Radio Station One.
"Who is the main victim? Europe and its security. I want to build a real security dialogue with Russia, which is a country I respect, a European country but we must have a Europe that can defend itself on its own without relying only on the United States," Macron said.
Trump's tweet just after landing in Paris that was highly critical of Macron is expected to strain the US-French relationship. Early this year, Trump had hosted Macron on the first State Dinner of his Administration.
Trump and Macron are schedule to have bilateral meeting during his stay in France.
Earlier leaving for Paris, the US President told reporters at the White House that it will be a "great, really, commemorative service". "I think it's going to be something very special. I've seen what they have planned, and I think it's going to be something very, very special," he said.
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Gujarat's Urvil Patel slams century in 28 balls, fastest T20 hundred by an Indian
Indore(PTI): Gujarat's wicketkeeper-batter Urvil Patel slammed the fastest T20 century by an Indian during his team's Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match against Tripura here on Wednesday, reaching the three-figure mark in just 28 balls.
This comes exactly a year after he smashed the second-fastest hundred by an Indian in List-A cricket.
The 26-year-old Urvil bettered Rishabh Pant's record for the fastest T20 hundred by an Indian. The India wicket-keeper had blazed away to a 32-ball century against Himachal Pradesh in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in 2018.
Urvil's ton is the second-fastest in T20 cricket, only behind Estonia's Sahil Chauhan, whose hundred against Cyprus came in 27 balls.
Opening the innings, Urvil struck seven fours and 12 sixes on his way to an unbeaten 113 off a mere 35 balls, as Gujarat completed a chase of 156 in 10.2 overs.
Earlier in the week, Urvil had gone unsold in the Indian Premier League player auction.
Exactly on this day last year, after being released by Gujarat Titans, Urvil scored an unbeaten 41-ball 100 for Gujarat in their Vijay Hazare Trophy match against Arunachal Pradesh in Chandigarh.
Urvil's century was the second-fastest by an Indian batter in List A cricket.
