Emmanuel Macron will travel to Washington this week for his second state visit, an “honor” that he hopes to take advantage of to boost his diplomatic argument on the war in Ukraine and raise his voice against US protectionism.
Americans will do everything they can to prevent the slightest friction or a somewhat cheeky statement from tarnishing the first state visit hosted by Joe Biden. The French president will be entitled on Thursday to all the pomp and honors of such a reception, with cannon fire, a gala dinner and a chat by the fireplace in the famous Oval Office.
John Kirby, spokesman for the White House National Security Council, on Monday praised this “dynamic” French president whose country, a nuclear power, is “at the center” of all global problems.
But Paris is not sulking its delight, ahead of a trip that will begin Tuesday night in Washington, and then take the French president to New Orleans. It is “an honor that is done to France more than to any other European country”, we salute, on the French side.
Ukraine and submarines
Everything possible will be done to resolve a recent Franco-American crisis. Between Joe Biden and Emmanuel Macron it started badly: in September 2021, Washington’s announcement of the AUKUS alliance with Australia and the United Kingdom aroused the ire of Paris, deprived of a mega-contract for submariners with Canberra. But also upset that he stayed away in a key region, “the Indo-Pacific.”
Beyond the protocol, the Élysée hopes to have a “demanding” dialogue. First in Ukraine. Since the Russian invasion, Emmanuel Macron has been playing a little song that has bothered the US partner for a long time: full support for Kyiv, but also dialogue with Moscow so that, when the Ukrainians decide, the war ends “around the negotiating table”.
The French head of state continues to reconcile this diplomat “at the same time” by organizing a conference in Paris on December 13 in support of Ukraine’s civil resistance while promising to speak again “in the next few days” to Vladimir Putin. .
But Washington seems to be moving closer to this position as his chief of staff, General Mark Milley, mentioned a possible window of opportunity for negotiations.
But Emmanuel Macron also wants a “resynchronization” of the economic response, on both sides of the Atlantic, to the crisis caused by the conflict and, more broadly, in terms of ecological transition and competition with China.
“We will not stand idly by”
Le main subject of friction devrait être commercial: Paris sees the parade à l'”Inflation Reduction Act” (IRA), which prévoit des investissements massifs pour la transition énergétique, accompagnés de généreuses subsidies pour les véhicules électriques, batteries et énergies renouvelables produits aux USA
“We will not sit idly by” in the face of this investment plan considered protectionist, said the French Prime Minister, Elisabeth Borne. The White House wants to calm things down. “We’re pretty ready to have this conversation and find a way to address these concerns,” John Kirby said.
If President Macron hopes to win “waivers” for some European industries, he knows Joe Biden is unlikely to reconsider the architecture of this crucial bottom-line plan.
Therefore, the idea is rather to learn the lessons to go and defend a similar policy with the Europeans.
Source: BFM TV
