Emmanuel Macron will receive US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday, on tour in Europe and the Middle East.
The latter disagree on the political situation in Washington, Mike Pompeo refusing to recognize the defeat of Donald Trump while Emmanuel Macron recognized the victory of Joe Biden as soon as the results were announced on Saturday.
Unexpected visit, Friday, in Paris.
That of Mike Pompeo, US Secretary of State to Donald Trump, on the occasion of what looks like a last-chance tour that began in France to continue in most of the capitals of Europe and the Middle East.
In these countries, however, all heads of state and government have recognized the electoral victory of Joe Biden.
The meeting with Mike Pompeo corresponds to diplomatic use and the need for a dialogue on issues such as terrorism or the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, while the Trump administration is still in charge in Washington, argues the Elysee, which specifies that the contacts with the team of the elected president are already "established and operational".
The Secretary of State is also due to meet his French counterpart, Jean-Yves Le Drian.
After France, Mike Pompeo is due to visit Turkey, Georgia, Israel and three allied Gulf countries: Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
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In denial
But the objective of the head of American diplomacy is also to remind America's allies that the final result of the presidential election is not yet known - or in any case not recognized by the White House -, and that Donald Trump is therefore still officially President of the United States until January 20.
Even it could be for another four years.
Indeed, Mike Pompeo is part of the last square of the Trumpian guard, who refuses to admit his defeat at the polls.
He also recalled it on Wednesday, denouncing massive fraud, without the slightest proof.
The latter also declared that he was considering only one possible transition: the one that will lead its president to a second term.
Joe Biden, already in contact with the main leaders of the planet
The meetings therefore promise to be tense.
In Paris, Emmanuel Macron called Joe Biden on Tuesday to personally greet him for his victory.
But above all, in Turkey and Israel, partners as close to Donald Trump as Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Benyamin Netanyahu have also acknowledged his defeat.
Meanwhile, Joe Biden continues to organize the transition as if nothing had happened.
He has just appointed his future chief of staff, the most important post in the American administration since he will assist him in the White House.
He has also set up a health unit to coordinate the fight against the Covid-19 epidemic which will be his top priority from day one of his mandate, he said.
Finally, at the international level, Joe Biden has already contacted the main leaders of the planet with a simple message: America is indeed back on the diplomatic scene, and especially in multilateral forums.