French President Emmanuel Macron embarked on a ceremonial visit to the United Kingdom, commencing his journey in the bright sunlight of Windsor Castle on Tuesday. As he disembarked, the thunderous harmony of a 41-gun salute filled the air to honour his arrival. His encounter with British royalty was characterized by joviality and warmth, as evident in his spirited exchanges with the king. Macron’s presence transformed the quiet landscape around Windsor, as the Household Cavalry trailed down the street and open-air carriages announced their arrival.
Prince Charles, as the welcoming host, guided President Macron into the elegant landau. Their conversation, punctuated by the occasional shared laughter, carried on as they settled themselves comfortably into their seats. The state visit of Macron has more to offer than just symbolic gestures and ceremonies; he’s set to address the parliament and make an appearance at a state dinner in the successive phase of his three-day visit.
Beyond the ceremonial aspect of his visit lies the political agenda. President Macron’s discussions with Keir Starmer, the British Prime Minister, are likely to revolve around key issues of mutual interest. Among these topics, the possibility of a potential agreement to mitigate the migrant crisis in the English Channel is expected to take prominence.
According to a representative of the British government, the existing collaboration between the United Kingdom and France has reached unprecedented depths. This state visit could become an accelerator for these ties, potentially further enhancing the bilateral partnership of these two nations.
The current visit, graciously hosted by Prince Charles and Queen Camilla, marks an epoch in French-British bilateral relationships. This is the first instance of a French state visit in the span of the last 17 years, the previous being the visit by then French leader Nicolas Sarkozy in 2008, whose reputation has since been tarnished.
The importance of Macron’s visit is further exemplified when it comes to the context of Britain’s departure from the EU. His visit represents the first of its kind by an EU leader post-Brexit. Moreover, in a span of 11 years, this is the first time Windsor Castle has played host to such an event.
A representative from Downing Street opined that the British-French relationship is a cornerstone for resolving various critical issues. They expressed optimism about making meaningful headway in areas such as migration, growth, security and defence. The fruits of cooperation are expected to serve in the best interests of both UK and French citizens.
The spokesperson further highlighted an agreement made with France to amend maritime tactics as a significant achievement. The agreement sees French border enforcement units stepping up their interventions in shallow water territories. Although complex from operational and legal perspectives, the spokesperson assured that collaboration with the French authorities is progressing well, indicating a likely implementation in the near future.
UK’s Prime Minister Starmer is slated to welcome President Macron at Downing Street in the ensuing days of Wednesday and Thursday. Starmer’s focus during these engagements will be on intensifying efforts to address migration, elevate defence and security partnership, and promote trade and investment reciprocity.
The exchange between Prime Minister Starmer and President Macron will see some high-profile attendees, as top-tier government ministers join the fray for the 37th UK-France Summit scheduled for Thursday. This summit will play a pivotal role in shaping the future discourse of the bilateral relationship.
In addition to their focus on bilateral issues, the leaders will also participate in an online meeting with a global perspective. This meeting will cover matters relating to assistance for Ukraine and devising strategies to exert additional pressure on Russia, thereby setting a precedent for international diplomacy.
The post Emmanuel Macron Graces the UK with His First Official Visit Since Brexit appeared first on Real News Now.
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