Emmanuel Macron in the United States to celebrate the Franco-American alliance

The French presidential couple upon their arrival in the United States, November 29, 2022. AP - Manuel Balce Ceneta

Text by: Guillaume Naudin Follow

4 mins

The French president is on a state visit to the country for the next three days.

With his American counterpart Joe Biden, he will celebrate and renew an old alliance that the two countries want to project into the future.

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From our correspondent in Washington, 

A State visit, in diplomatic matters, is the highest degree of importance that can exist on the protocol level.

The most prominent places in the American capital, and in particular the White House, are decked out in the colors of the two countries.

At the end of a first day marked by a visit to the national cemetery of Arlington and by a meeting with the French community, a private dinner is planned for the two presidential couples.

On Thursday morning, a very formal welcome ceremony will take place at the White House before a bilateral meeting and finally a State dinner in the evening.

There are also plans for a series of meetings at the highest level with Vice-President Kamala Harris and the Secretary of State, the very French-speaking and very Francophile Anthony Blinken, but also with Congress officials.

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But in Washington, we especially remember that this is the first state visit organized here

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And for this first, the American president chose his French counterpart.

The choice of France, no coincidence

National Security Council Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby makes no secret that the Biden administration is very “excited” – which can be translated as “elated” – by this visit.

He explains that alliances are a pillar of American foreign policy.

And France is the oldest ally of the United States.

She is, says John Kirby, at the center of everything that is happening around Ukraine and the Indo-Pacific with Chinese threats.

And he is full of praise for Emmanuel Macron, described as European leader within the G7, and whose experience, knowledge and wisdom he praises.

He insists less on it,

The White House decked out in the colors of France, November 29, 2022. REUTERS - KEVIN LAMARQUE

Lots of stuff to discuss

It will obviously be a question of the major international issues of the moment.

The war in Ukraine, but also relations with Russia.

Emmanuel Macron assumes to continue to discuss with Vladimir Putin, unlike Joe Biden.

On China, the great rival and competitor designated by the United States, France and the Europeans are on a less offensive line and are keen to maintain their economic relations with Beijing.

We are going to talk about space cooperation.

Emmanuel Macron will visit a NASA flight center near Washington.

The fight against terrorism, food and energy security, with gas and nuclear power are also on the agenda.

We will also talk about the fight against climate change and economic relations.

Points of disagreement to iron out

According to a French official, the differences must not become real divergences.

What France, and more broadly Europe, criticizes the United States for is the famous inflation reduction law that was enacted last summer by Joe Biden.

This law provides tax incentives to Americans for the purchase of electric vehicles manufactured in the United States.

and that is protectionism.

On the American side, it is explained that this law includes the largest package of measures for energy transition and against climate change ever voted, that it is good for the planet and that it is therefore in the general interest.

An American-European working group has been created to understand the European reserves.

The White House explains that it is really in a process of listening and announces that if there is no agreement on the occasion of this State visit, this process will continue.

Because above all, for the Biden administration, this state visit must not be an opportunity to spread disagreements, but to celebrate relations and an old alliance while relaunching it for the future.

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• United States

• France

• Emmanuel Macron

• Joe Biden

• Diplomacy