France’s Macron in US for first state visit hosted by Biden
- French leader will be given a full ceremonial military welcome to the White House, an Oval Office meeting and a state banquet
- Carefully choreographed display of transatlantic friendship will be the first formal state visit of Joe Biden’s presidency
French President Emmanuel Macron is in Washington for the first state visit of Joe Biden’s presidency – a revival of diplomatic pageantry that had been put on hold because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Biden-Macron relationship had a choppy start. Macron briefly recalled France’s ambassador to the United States last year after the White House announced a deal to sell nuclear submarines to Australia, undermining a contract for France to sell diesel-powered submarines.
But the relationship has turned around with Macron emerging as one of Biden’s most forward-facing European allies in the Western response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
This week’s visit – it will include Oval Office talks, a glitzy dinner, a news conference and more – comes at a critical moment for both leaders.
The leaders have a long agenda for their Thursday meeting at the White House, including Iran’s nuclear programme, China’s increasing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific and growing concerns about security and stability in Africa’s Sahel region, according to US and French officials.
But front and centre 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.