US President Joe Biden will be welcomed by his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, on June 8 in Paris for his first state visit to France. This meeting was announced this Thursday, May 30, by the Élysée Palace and the White House. It takes place as part of the celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the Allied landings in Normandy during the Second World War, which will be held on June 6.
Joe Biden and his wife, Jill Biden, will attend the commemorations in Normandy, where they will pay tribute to the 73,000 American soldiers who landed on Utah and Omaha Beach, paving the way for the liberation of France and Europe. The US president will deliver remarks at these ceremonies and greet the American veterans present and their families.
Discussions on Ukraine and international cooperation
Joe Biden's visit to France, which will run from June 5 to 9, will also feature discussions on long-term support for Ukraine. This issue is particularly relevant as Europe is once again facing war on its soil, 80 years after the continent's liberation. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, will also participate in the D-Day commemorations.
The two presidents will also discuss the coordination of responses to international crises with a view to upcoming summits, notably the G7 in Italy in mid-June and the NATO summit in July in Washington. Joe Biden will deliver another speech on June 7 at Pointe du Hoc in Normandy, emphasizing the importance of defending freedom and democracy.
Electoral context and international issues
This visit comes as Joe Biden is in the midst of a re-election campaign against his Republican predecessor. Donald Trump, in view of the November election. Despite his advanced age of 81, the American president will have to make several transatlantic trips to attend international events.
For Emmanuel Macron, this visit is also crucial, taking place just before the European elections, where his camp is currently in difficulty in the polls, ahead of the far right of the National Rally and closely followed by the socialist candidate Raphaël Glucksmann.
Strengthening bilateral ties and global commitments
Discussions between Biden and Macron will also focus on strengthening bilateral cooperation in the economic, space and nuclear fields. They will also discuss joint actions to address global issues, notably the climate emergency and the protection of biodiversity.
The state visit will begin with a formal ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe, where the two leaders will participate in the rekindling of the flame and the laying of wreaths at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, on June 8 at 11:00 a.m. Joe Biden will then be received at the Élysée, followed by a state dinner in the evening.
This visit follows that of Emmanuel Macron to the United States in December 2022, where he criticized American subsidies for the energy transition. This will be a new opportunity for the two leaders to reaffirm the democratic values shared between their nations and to strengthen their historic alliance.
