His post may be largely ceremonial but his messaging’s crystal clear. The first state dinner at the palace of King Charles’ reign going to France’s Emmanuel Macron, not the United States’ Donald Trump. At a time when the United Kingdom’s forced to rethink its role in an uncertain world, is turning its back this time on Winston’s Churchill’s adage that “'Every time we have to decide between Europe and the open sea, she must always choose the open sea”?
On that point, Emmanuel Macron even handed the microphone at Westminster as the first European leader honored with a state visit since Brexit. We’ll ask about his message… the symbiotic ties that bind the continent’s only nuclear powers.
On that score, one of the highlights of the three-day visit, the French president and the UK prime minister will Thursday jointly host a virtual summit of the "coalition of the willing" on Ukraine from the Nato base at Northwood, England. Symbolic show… or a new chapter?
Produced by François Picard, Rebecca Gnignati, Juliette Laffont, Ilayda Habip, Alessandro Xenos.
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Sandro GOZI French MEP and lead candidate for the Renew Europe group
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Benedicte PAVIOT FRANCE 24 London correspondent
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Laura CARTER Lecturer in British History, Université Paris Cité
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Christian LEQUESNE Professor at Sciences Po
English (US) · 