WASHINGTON (AP) November, 29— French President Emmanuel Macron is in Washington for President Joe Biden’s first official visit.
Biden and Macron’s relationship got off to a rocky start. After the White House announced a deal to sell nuclear submarines to Australia last year, President Macron briefly recalled France’s ambassador to the United States.
But relations have changed as Mr. Macron has emerged as one of Mr Biden’s most progressive European allies in the Western response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It will include a lavish dinner and press conference and will take place at an important time for both leaders.
The leaders have a long agenda for their Thursday meeting at the White House, including Iran’s nuclear program, China’s increasing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific and growing concerns about security and stability in Africa’s Sahel region, according to U.S. and French officials. But front and center during their Oval Office meeting will be Russia’s war in Ukraine, as both Biden and Macron work to maintain economic and military support for Kyiv as it tries to repel Russian forces.
In Washington, Republicans are set to take control of the House, where GOP leader Kevin McCarthy says Republicans will not write a “blank check” for Ukraine. Across the Atlantic, Macron’s efforts to keep Europe united will be tested by the mounting costs of supporting Ukraine in the nine-month war and as Europe battles rising energy prices that threaten to derail the post-pandemic economic recovery.
White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby on Monday described Macron as the “dynamic leader” of America’s oldest ally while explaining Biden’s decision to honor the French president with the first state visit of his presidency. The U.S. tradition of honoring foreign heads of state can be traced back to Ulysses S. Grant, who invited King David Kalakaua of the Kingdom of Hawaii to a 20-plus course White House dinner, but COVID-19 muses.
“If you look at what’s happening in Ukraine, what’s happening in the Indo-Pacific, the tensions with China, France is at the center of all this,” Kirby said. “So the president felt this was the right and most appropriate country to launch a state visit.”
Macron was also named by Republican Donald Trump as the first foreign leader to make a state visit during his tenure. Official visits in 2018 included trips by the two heads of state to Mount Vernon, Virginia’s home of America’s first president, George Washington. Macron is expected to arrive in Washington on Tuesday night before meetings and attendance in and around Washington on Wednesday, including a visit to NASA headquarters with Vice President Kamala Harris and a meeting with senior Biden administration officials on nuclear energy. was.
On Thursday, Macron will hold an informal meeting with Mr. Biden, followed by a joint press conference, visits to the State Department and the Capitol, and a state dinner to celebrate Mr. Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron. is. Entertainment is provided by Grammy Award winner John Baptiste.
French officials say Macron will travel to New Orleans on Friday to announce plans to expand programs to help teach French in U.S. schools.
Despite all this, there are still areas of tension in US-France relations. Mr. Biden has avoided accepting Mr. Macron’s demands for Ukraine to resume peace talks with Russia.
