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French President Emmanuel Macron said Europe must “go faster and stronger” in its industrial ambition, after a meeting on Thursday with his American counterpart, Joe Biden, at the White House. The two heads of state displayed a strong alliance despite the differences.
“We want to succeed together, not against each other.” Emmanuel Macron posted, Thursday 1is December, his rapprochement with Joe Biden, in particular during the joint press conference held after a meeting between the two men at the White House. Despite the differences, the French and American Heads of State demonstrated their good understanding and their personal closeness.
Joe Biden pledged that job creation in the United States would not be “at the expense of Europe”, after friction over his country’s industrial policy.
Europe must “go faster and stronger” to have “the same industrial ambition” than Washington, said Emmanuel Macron.
“Synchronize the approaches”
During this meeting, the two Heads of State also clarified their position on theInflation Reduction Act (IRA), a subject of tension on both sides of the Atlantic. They thus pledged to work to “synchronize their approaches and their agendas” to “invest in critical emerging industries such as semiconductors, hydrogen, batteries (…), because deep down we share the same vision and the same will,” said Emmanuel Macron.
The French president said he had “a very good discussion” with his counterpart on the IRA and the massive subsidies reserved for American manufacturers that result from it.
“President Biden wants to create long-term industrial jobs for his country and build a strong industry and secure supplies and that is exactly a vision we have,” he explained. “This is why we have given our teams a mandate to continue this work in close coordination in order to be able to find solutions” on these subjects.
“We talked a lot about the anti-inflation plan. We have the same objective: to invest massively”, commented for his part Joe Biden.
Support Ukraine “as long as it takes”
About the war in UkraineJoe Biden and Emmanuel Macron pledged with one voice to support kyiv.
“We will remain united to oppose the brutality” of Russia in Ukraine, affirmed the American president.
For his part, the French president, whose positions on the matter have in the past aroused incomprehension, even a certain irritation of the Americans, assured that he would “never push the Ukrainians to accept a compromise which would be unacceptable for them ” regarding Russian aggression, because it would not help to build “a lasting peace”.
In a joint statement issued after the meeting of more than an hour in the Oval Office of the White House, the two countries pledged to provide Ukraine with “political, security, humanitarian and economic assistance as well long as it takes”, including by strengthening the country’s anti-aircraft defence.
Finally, Joe Biden said he was “ready” to speak with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin if the latter “is looking for a way to end the war” in Ukraine.
With regard to China, the two presidents pledged to “coordinate” their countries’ response to the “challenges posed” by the Asian giant, particularly in terms of human rights, and to work “with China on global issues importance, such as climate change”.
A radiant agreement
Whether during their press conference or during the more solemn moments of Emmanuel Macron’s state visit, the first organized by the Biden administration, the two leaders displayed the most radiant understanding.
Forgotten, the open crisis of September 2021, when Washington blew a huge order for Australian submarines under the French’s noses.
The White House deployed all its pomp on Thursday to celebrate Franco-American friendship, while the two men tried to temper the pomp with a more personal touch. The day is to end with a state dinner with which the Americans intend to show off to France on the culinary level.
The White House sacrificed 200 lobsters and will present exclusively American wines and cheeses.
With AFP and Archyde.com