Europe’s Leaders Jockey for Face Time with Obama

Alistair MacDonald reports from London, Marcus Walker from Berlin and David Gauthier-Villars from Paris on foreign relations. With the race for the White House now over, the race to the White House has started in Europe as the region’s leaders compete for the attention of the president-elect. Late Thursday and on Friday, Europe’s biggest powers rushed out statements about their leaders’ phone time with Barack Obama . French President Nicolas Sarkozy appears to have taken an early lead. A spokesman said that Obama talked to Sarkozy for 30 minutes on Thursday and agreed to meet “quite soon.” Sarkozy, though, spoke through an interpreter, which may have lengthened his time with Obama. The French leader also tried but failed to get time with Obama on Wednesday, an aide to Sarkozy said. Angela Merkel , Germany’s chancellor, speaks English and got 15 minutes on Thursday, her office said. The Germans have already had some quality time with Obama. In July, the then-candidate made a ... (link)