As he arrived in the United Kingdom for his first state visit by a European leader since Brexit, French President Emmanuel Macron demanded that the UK support the state of Palestine and aid the country’s defense.
Macron praised the resumption of closer ties between France and the UK in a comparatively rare speech to both chambers of the British parliament on Tuesday, saying that the two nations must work together to end “excessive dependencies” between the US and China.
King Charles III was at the president’s three-day visit. Prior to their arrival at Windsor Castle in horse-drawn carriages, the royal family welcomed her, including Prince William, the heir-to-the-throne, and his wife, Princess Catherine.
Macron then addressed parliament, claiming that in addition to strengthening Europe, the two nations must work together to improve the environment, climate, and defense.
The French president remarked in English that “our alliance can make all the difference.” “The United Kingdom and France must once again demonstrate to the world that our alliance can make a difference. “We will go hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder, because that is the only way to deal with the challenges we face, the challenges of our time,” he said.
Macron also vowed to support an unconditional ceasefire in Gaza and that the European countries would “never abandon Ukraine” in its fight against ingratiating Russian forces.
He then urged the UK to work with France to recognize a Palestinian state, calling it “the only way to peace.”
The perspective of a Palestinian state has never been in danger, Macron said, adding that with Gaza in disrepair and the West Bank being attacked daily. The only way to bring peace and stability to everyone in the entire region is because of the two states’ agreement and their recognition of the State of Palestine.
He cited the geopolitical dangers that France and the UK face, and argued that they should be wary of the “excessive dependencies of both the US and China,” arguing that they needed to “de-risk our economies and our societies from this dual dependency.”
Macron continued, citing the benefits of a closer union, calling for closer integration of students, researchers, and artists, as well as efforts to collaborate on artificial intelligence and online protection for children.
Following the strained relationship between London and its exit from the European Union, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s centre-left Labour Party sought to improve relations with them.
Entente Amicale
With 160 guests including politicians, diplomats, celebrities like Mick Jagger and Elton John, King Charles hosted a banquet for the Macrons at Windsor Castle later that evening.
Charles promoted the “entente cordiale” – an alliance dating from 1904 that ended centuries of military rivalries to an “entente amicale” during his speech at the lavish state banquet.
“Permit me to offer a toast to France and our new entente as we dine in this ancient restaurant, which is rich with our shared history. The king remarked, “An entente, both past and present, as well as for the future, and not just cordiale but now amicale.”
The UK and France announced that EDF, a French company that manages nuclear energy, would invest 1.1 billion pounds ($1.5 billion) in an eastern England nuclear power project as part of their three-day visit.
In exchange for London loaning Paris Anglo-Saxon and Viking treasures, the two also announced that France would lend the UK the Bayeux Tapestry, which would allow the 11th-century masterpiece to return for the first time in more than 900 years.
On Wednesday, Macron will meet with Starmer to discuss migration, defense, and investment.
In the event of a ceasefire with Russia, the UK and France have been working closely together to build a planned military force to support Ukraine despite tensions over post-Brexit ties and how to stop asylum seekers from crossing the English Channel in small boats.
The two leaders will call in to a coalition meeting on Thursday to talk about increasing Ukraine support and putting pressure on Russia, Starmer’s office confirmed on Monday.
According to the French presidency, they will speak with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Foreign Secretary Friedrich Merz, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Starmer hopes that with the UK’s support for Ukraine, which will allow London to try out a new policy regarding preventing people smuggling, it will be easier for Macron to get rid of the problem of people smuggling.
In exchange for another person with a legitimate case of being in the country, the UK would deport one asylum seeker to France. In the first six months of this year, there were a record number of asylum seekers crossing small boats into the UK. Starmer is under pressure to come up with a solution because his party is currently polling close to Nigel Farage’s right-wing Reform UK party.
Source: Aljazeera
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