1 December, Biden will host Macron

The White House announced that President Biden would host French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte for a state visit on December 1. This will be Mr. Biden’s first state visit since entering the presidency.

During the visit, Mr. Biden and Mr. Macron will address the “continued close collaboration” between the United States and France, as well as “shared global problems and areas of bilateral interest,” according to White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. Among the areas in which the two countries have collaborated is the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, she noted.

The state visit, according to Jean-Pierre, “will highlight the profound and enduring friendship between the United States and France, our longest-standing partner. Our tight connection with France is based on our shared democratic ideals, economic links, and collaboration in defense and security.”

Mr. Biden and Mr. Macron have spoken multiple times during the president’s tenure and met last week on the fringes of the General Assembly of the United Nations. Jean-Pierre stated that the United States and France have a “highly cherished connection” and that it was crucial for President Obama and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden to “welcome this close and valued partner to the White House.”

The first state visit for Mr. Biden will occur more than 22 months after he assumed office, and Jean-Pierre observed that the COVID-19 outbreak pushed back a number of regular White House activities. Nonetheless, Mr. Biden has met with other foreign leaders on official visits during his presidency.

Macron also visited the United States in 2018 for a state visit sponsored by former President Donald Trump. Macron, who was first elected president of France in 2017, overcame Marine Le Pen, a candidate from the far right, to win a second term in April.