French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday urged Britain to stay near its neighbors regardless of its exit from the European Union, saying France and the U.Okay. will “save Europe” by standing for democracy, legislation and worldwide order in a harmful world.
On a state go to that combined royal pageantry with robust political talks on Ukraine and migration, Macron stated Europe should strengthen its economic system and defenses and cut back its dependence “on each the U.S. and China.”
Macron’s three-day journey, on the invitation of King Charles III, is the primary state go to to the U.Okay. by a European Union head of state since Brexit, and a logo of the U.Okay. authorities’s need to reset relations with the bloc after Britain acrimoniously left the EU in 2020.
Macron addressed members of each homes of Britain’s Parliament packed into the constructing’s ornate Royal Gallery. He stated the 2 nations symbolize “a world order based mostly on legislation, justice and respect for territorial integrity, an order that’s at present being attacked each day.”
“The UK and France should as soon as once more present the world that our alliance could make all of the distinction,” Macron stated, including that “we are going to save Europe by our instance and our solidarity.”
He stated that despite the fact that Britain has left the EU, “the UK can not keep on the sidelines. As a result of protection and safety, competitiveness, democracy — the very core of our identification — are related throughout Europe as a continent.”
Pomp and politics
The French president and his spouse, Brigitte Macron, had been handled to the complete drive of British ceremonial allure, a far cry from the chilly relations of 2022, when then-Overseas Secretary Liz Truss stated that the “jury is out” on whether or not Macron was a good friend or a foe.
The Macrons had been greeted at London’s RAF Northolt air base by Prince William and his spouse Catherine — sporting a gown by French design home Christian Dior — earlier than being met by King Charles and Queen Camilla in Windsor, west of London. They had been pushed to the virtually 1,000-year-old royal residence of Windsor Fort in horse-drawn carriages, by means of streets bedecked in Union Jacks and French tricolor flags.
The king and queen hosted a banquet for the Macrons at Windsor Fort on Tuesday night, with 160 friends together with politicians, diplomats and celebrities reminiscent of Mick Jagger and Elton John. They had been served summer time greens, rooster with asparagus and iced blackcurrant parfait, together with Champagne and a gin-infused cocktail known as L’entente, after the “entente cordiale” struck between Britain and France in 1904.
As monarch, Charles is predicted to be above politics, however he spoke in regards to the assist Britain and France give Ukraine “in protection of our shared values,” famous the problem of “irregular migration throughout the English Channel” and stated the 2 nations face “advanced threats, emanating from a number of instructions.
“As pals and as allies, we face them collectively,” Charles stated.
New ways to cease boats
Politics will take middle stage on Wednesday, when Macron sits down for talks with U.Okay. Prime Minister Keir Starmer on migration, protection and funding — together with a 12.5% stake by French vitality agency EDF in a brand new nuclear energy plant deliberate for japanese England.
Macron additionally got here bearing a tantalizing cultural present: an settlement to ship the Bayeux Tapestry to Britain for the primary time in additional than 900 years. The 70-meter (230-foot) tapestry displaying the Norman conquest of England in 1066 will go on show on the British Museum from September 2026 to July 2027.
At talks Wednesday and a U.Okay.-France summit on Thursday, Macron and Starmer will focus on methods to cease migrants from crossing the English Channel in small boats and attempt to advance plans for a post-ceasefire safety drive for Ukraine, regardless of obvious U.S. indifference to the thought and Russia’s refusal to halt the onslaught on its neighbor.
Britain receives fewer asylum-seekers than Mediterranean European nations, however 1000’s of migrants annually use northern France as a launching level to achieve the U.Okay., both by stowing away in vans or — after a clampdown on that route — in small boats throughout one of many world’s busiest delivery lanes.
The U.Okay. has struck a sequence of offers with France through the years to enhance patrols of seashores and share intelligence in an try and disrupt the smuggling gangs.
It has all had solely a restricted affect. About 37,000 folks had been detected crossing the English Channel in small boats in 2024, and greater than 20,000 folks made the crossing within the first six months of 2025, up by about 50% from the identical interval final yr. Dozens of individuals have died attempting to cross.
British officers have been pushing for French police to intervene extra forcefully to cease the boats, and welcomed the sight of officers slashing rubber dinghies with knives in current days.
France can be contemplating a U.Okay. proposal for a “one-in, one-out” deal that may see France take again some migrants who reached Britain, in return for the U.Okay. accepting a few of these in France.
Macron stated the leaders would attempt “to repair at present what’s a burden for our two nations.”
“France and the U.Okay. have a shared accountability to handle irregular migration with humanity, solidarity and equity,” he stated.
Retaining Ukraine in focus
Starmer and Macron have labored intently collectively to rally assist for Ukraine, although they’ve taken contrasting approaches to U.S. President Donald Trump, with Macron extra prepared to problem the American president than the emollient Starmer.
Britain and France have led efforts to kind a world peacekeeping drive for Ukraine to bolster a future ceasefire with European troops and tools and U.S. safety ensures.
Trump has proven little enthusiasm for the thought, nevertheless, and a ceasefire stays elusive. British officers say the “coalition of the prepared” concept is alive and properly, with Macron and Starmer on account of be a part of a world videoconference on Thursday to debate planning for the drive.
Macron stated the coalition was an indication that “Europeans won’t ever abandon Ukraine – by no means.”
