Biden and Macron reaffirm their “essential” alliance despite the tensions of the past few months
United States President Joe Biden and President Emmanuel Macron, in Washington, December 1, 2022. © Alex Brandon/AP
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3 mins
US President Joe Biden and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron displayed this Thursday, December 1, the strength of the alliance which unites the United States and France, despite tensions over American industrial policy deemed "
super aggressive
" by Paris.
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"
The United States could not ask for a better partner to work with than France
," said Joe Biden from the White House gardens, specifying that the alliance with France remained "
essential
".
"
Our common destiny is to respond together
" to the challenges of the world, replied Emmanuel Macron.
"
Our two nations are sisters in their fight for freedom
," he said, calling for France and the United States to become "
brothers in arms
" again.
Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte were received with great fanfare during this state visit, carefully calibrated to show goodwill.
The French head of state is the first to whom the American president has reserved such treatment since his inauguration in January 2021. Joe Biden is strong, after the mandate of Donald Trump, to strengthen ties with the traditional partners of the United States .
The submarine crisis still in mind
However, relations between Joe Biden and Emmanuel Macron had not started very well.
In September 2021, the United States announced a spectacular new military alliance with the United Kingdom and Australia, blowing France a huge submarine contract.
Joe Biden, without going back to the substance of the decision, had recognized a "
clumsiness
" and has since done everything to appease Emmanuel Macron.
A process which, according to analysts, culminates in this solemn welcome to Washington.
► To read also: Case of the submarines: Biden and Macron promise to restore "confidence"
Other disputes should be discussed during this visit.
Emmanuel Macron thus deplored on Wednesday, November 30 in a particularly offensive tone the “ super aggressive
” economic decisions
for European companies by his American counterpart.
In particular, the American president passed a gigantic investment program, the "
Inflation Reduction Act
"
,
which plans to subsidize electric cars as long as they are "
Made in the USA
.
This with the aim of revitalizing its industry and reassuring a middle class shaken by globalization, while standing up to Beijing.
“
You may be going to solve your problem, but you will make mine worse
,” Emmanuel Macron told American parliamentarians, insisting on the need for France also to support the middle class and employment.
These choices “
will fragment the West
”, he then hammered before the French community.
They “
can only work if there is coordination between us, if we decide together, if we resynchronize
”, he added.
Diplomacy and gala
After this charge, Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron went to dinner with Joe and Jill Biden in a seafood restaurant on the banks of the Potomac, for a moment that was both private and "
political
", according to an adviser to the Élysée.
“
We did not come to Washington to celebrate the alliance
”, that “
it is acquired
”, we must talk about “
real subjects
”, he pleaded.
Beyond these discussions, the two leaders will certainly want to display their agreement on the response to be given to the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
"
We must together weave new balances in the world to bring about peace, build a renewed and fairer partnership with the South
," said Emmanuel Macron.
These serious questions will be temporarily put aside during a gala dinner which will take place this Thursday evening.
► To read also: Emmanuel Macron in the United States to celebrate the Franco-American alliance
(
With
AFP)
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