On Saturday, June 8th, US President Biden will conduct a state visit to France, during which French President Macron will hold a grand military parade ceremony. The two leaders are also planning to hold talks on trade, Israel, and the Ukraine issue.
Despite the tension in US-France relations due to the Australian submarine deal, the relationship between Biden and Macron remains harmonious. They will participate in a welcome ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe with their wives, parade along the Champs-Élysées, hold meetings on policy issues, and later have dinner together.
Biden previously hosted Macron at the White House in 2022 when Macron conducted a state visit to the US.
Earlier this week, US National Security Advisor Sullivan told reporters, “France is one of our oldest and closest allies… This will be an important moment to strengthen our alliance and look forward to the missions we will accomplish together in the future.”
Sullivan mentioned that their discussions will involve the Russia-Ukraine war, the Israel-Palestine conflict, cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, as well as policy issues including climate change, artificial intelligence (AI), and supply chains.
White House National Security Communications Advisor Kirby mentioned that the two countries will announce a maritime law enforcement cooperation program, with the US Coast Guard and the French Navy intensifying their cooperation.
Biden and Macron will also discuss strengthening the NATO alliance. Both countries have pledged support for Ukraine, but have not yet reached an agreement on a plan to use frozen Russian assets to assist Kyiv. US Treasury officials stated on Tuesday that discussions on this matter are ongoing among the US and Group of Seven (G7) partners.
On Friday, Biden met with Ukrainian President Zelenskiy in Paris, expressing apologies for the delayed approval of the military aid package by the US Congress. Zelenskiy delivered a speech at the French National Assembly.
On Thursday, during a speech at the Normandy American Cemetery in Spain, Biden urged Western countries to continue supporting Ukraine.
Macron and Biden will also consult on the situation in the Middle East.
Biden has been a staunch supporter of Israel. Following Hamas attacks on Israel last October, Israel has been pursuing Hamas in Gaza. However, the deaths of tens of thousands of Palestinians have raised concerns among Biden’s left-wing supporters, which could potentially impact his re-election campaign.
Trade issues across the Atlantic may also be significant discussion points.
Biden’s enactment of the “Inflation Reduction Act” in August 2022 angered European officials, who viewed it as a protectionist measure that could attract businesses from countries including the EU to invest massively.
During his state visit to Washington in 2022, Macron expressed concerns that a comprehensive subsidy package amidst the joint efforts of Washington and its allies against China and Russia may “divide the West” and weaken Europe’s economic recovery.
However, Washington has hardly made any concessions on this matter. French officials state that the purpose of this meeting is still an attempt to “realign” the economic agendas of the US and the EU.
(Note: This article was based on related reports from Reuters)