French president Emmanuel Macron On Tuesday, Great Britain asked to stay near his neighbors despite its exit of the European Union, and said that France and Great Britain would “save” Europe by standing in a dangerous world for democracy, law and international order.
On A State visit that mixed Royal Pageantry with hard political conversations In Ukraine and Migration, Macron said that Europe had to strengthen its economy and defense and reduce its dependence “from the USA and China”.
Macron’s three -day trip at the invitation of King Charles IIIis the first state visit to Great Britain by a head of state of the European Union since Brexit and a symbol of the Desire of the British government to reset the relationships with the block after the Great Britain extinguished the EU in 2020.
Macron spoke members of both houses of the British parliament to the artistic royal gallery of the building. He said the two countries represent “a world order based on law, justice and respect for territorial integrity, an order that is attacked daily today”.
“The United Kingdom and France have to show the world again that our alliance can make the difference,” said Macron and added that “we will save Europe through our example and our solidarity.”
He said, although Great Britain has left the EU, “the United Kingdom cannot remain marginally. Because defense and security, competitiveness, democracy – the core of our identity – are connected all over Europe.”
Pomp and politics
The French President and his wife, Brigitte Macronwere treated with the full power of the British ceremonial charm, far from the cool relationships from 2022, when the secretary Liz Truss said that the “jury” was a friend or an enemy.
The macarons were welcomed by Prince William and his wife Catherine on the London Raf Northolt Air Base – a dress by French Design House Christian Dior – Before King Charles and Queen Camilla met in Windsor, west of London. They were drawn to the almost 1,000-year-old Royal Residence of Windsor Castle in horses, through streets that were decorated in Union of Jacks and French Tricolor flags.
The king and the queen organized a banquet for the macarons in Windsor Castle on Tuesday evening. 160 guests, including politicians, diplomats and celebrities such as Mick Jagger and Elton John. They were served summer vegetables, chicken with asparagus and ice cream parfait as well as champagne and a gin-enriched cocktail called L’Estente after the “Entente Cordiale” was hit between Great Britain and France in 1904.
As a monarch, Charles is expected to lie above politics, but he spoke about the support of Great Britain and France, which gave Ukraine “to defend our common values”, found the challenge of the “irregular migration over the English Canal” and said that the two countries ended with “complex threats from several directions.
“As friends and as an ally, we put them together,” said Charles.
New tactics to stop boats
Politics will be the focus on Wednesday when Macron sets talks with the British Prime Minister Keir Starrer About migration, defense and investment – including a share of 12.5% of the French energy company EDF in a new nuclear power plant that is planned for East England.
Macron also came with a tempting cultural gift: an agreement to send the Bayeux tapiserie For the first time in more than 900 years to Great Britain. The 70 meters (230 feet) tapestry From September 2026 to July 2027, the Norman conquest of England will be exhibited in the British Museum in 1066.
During the talks on Wednesday and Thursday, Macron and Starrer will discuss opportunities on Thursday to stop migrants from migrants Cross the sleeve canal in small boats and try Security forces for UkraineDespite the obvious indifference of the idea and the refusal of Russia, to stop the rush to his neighbor.
Great Britain receives fewer asylum seekers than Mediterranean European countries, but thousands of migrants use northern France every year as the starting point to reach Great Britain by either clogging in a truck or after a clamp on this extension in small boats over one of the world’s most busy shipping road.
Great Britain has completed a number of shops with France over the years Increase the patrols of beaches And share intelligence to disturb the smuggling gangs.
It all had a limited impact. About 37,000 people were found in small boats and more than 20,000 people in 2024 who crossed the English Channel made the intersection In the first six months of 2025, compared to around 50% compared to the same period of the previous year. Dozens of people have died to cross.
The British officials urged the French police to intervene more to stop the boats and welcomed the sight of the officers Select rubber things With knives in the last few days.
France also consider a British proposal for a “one-in-one-one-out” contract in which France would withdraw some migrants who have reached Great Britain, some of those in France in return for Great Britain.
Macron said the leaders would try to “fix what is a burden for our two countries today”.
“France and Great Britain have a common responsibility to tackle the irregular migration with humanity, solidarity and fairness,” he said.
Keep the Ukraine in focus
Starer and Macron have worked closely together Rally support for Ukraine, although they have taken Opposite approaches For US President Donald Trump, and Macron ready to challenge the American president as the Emollient Sarmers.
Great Britain and France have made the efforts to form an international peacekeeping for Ukraine in order to strengthen future ceasefire with European troops and equipment and the US security guarantees.
However, Trump showed little enthusiasm for the idea, and an armistice remains difficult to grasp. British civil servants say that the “coalition of the willing” idea is alive and good, with Macron and Starmer join an international video conference on Thursday to discuss planning for the force.
Macron said the coalition was a sign that “Europeans will never leave Ukraine – never.”
