Latest news with #statevisit
Japan Times
a day ago
- Business
- Japan Times
Britain and Europe are changing together
Many state visits are empty, symbolic acts that have little to no policy content or lasting significance. But every now and then, such a visit changes the shape of international relations. Could French President Emmanuel Macron's recently concluded trip to London be one of them? Macron's recent three-day trip, the first state visit to the United Kingdom by a European Union head of state since Brexit in 2020, had plenty of pomp and pageantry. But it also focused on policy and politics, which reflects a profound shift in the U.K.'s circumstances since leaving the EU. During the upheaval of the Brexit psychodrama, there was little interest in constructive exchange, and the U.K.'s relationship with Europe remained defined by its lurching departure from the bloc. But nearly a decade on, Donald Trump is back in the White House and has launched a trade war on the world. Russian President Vladimir Putin has shredded the European security order. And Chinese President Xi Jinping has resorted to threats of economic coercion — a striking reversal from the 'golden era' of U.K.-China relations proclaimed in 2015. Even more dramatic, perhaps, are the changes in the EU. The big policy initiatives launched during Macron's U.K. visit reflect the forces that are turning the bloc on its head. First, the EU is moving from a peace project to a war union. For most of its existence, the EU sought peace through economic integration. But Putin's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 reoriented the bloc toward security — a goal that has taken on greater urgency since Trump cast doubt on the United States' commitment to collective security on the continent. There is broad support for this new orientation. According to a recent opinion poll conducted by the European Council on Foreign Relations, many Europeans favor increased defense spending, conscription and the development of a European or national nuclear deterrent. Against this backdrop, Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer took a bold first step toward establishing an independent nuclear deterrent with the Northwood Declaration, in which they agreed that 'there is no extreme threat to Europe that would not prompt a response by our two nations.' A second major change is the development of 'securonomics.' The EU economy is under pressure from Trump's tariffs and China's export restrictions on magnets and critical minerals. EU policymakers now talk of de-risking, diversifying and deepening the single market, rather than pursuing free-trade agreements. While the U.K. has made it clear that it will not rejoin the single market or the customs union, the question is whether it can persuade the EU that it can be counted on to help the bloc achieve its new trade goals or whether it will be given unfriendly treatment because it is seen as posing a risk to those objectives. Domestic politics in Europe has also undergone a rapid transformation. It has been fascinating to watch Macron — once a poster boy for liberal universalism — reinvent himself as a champion of secure borders and protectionism, while taking a tougher stance on crime. This volte-face has seen mainstream European politicians shift focus toward defending national sovereignty — from Russia, China, Trump and migration — while they try to contain populist parties such as Marine Le Pen's National Rally and Alternative fur Deutschland. That is the backdrop for the ground-breaking deal that Starmer and Macron signed on migration returns. Starmer's approach to Europe is a marked improvement from that of former Conservative prime ministers Boris Johnson (who compared the EU to Napoleon and Hitler) and Liz Truss (who questioned whether Macron was a friend or a foe). Starmer has proved himself, particularly with his deft diplomacy on Ukraine, to be a reliable partner and stakeholder, regaining the trust of EU institutions and member states. One senior German policymaker told me how impressed he was by the U.K. filling the leadership vacuum created by Trump's disregard for Ukraine. In other words, the U.K. is widely seen in Europe as being 'part of the team' again. The EU-U.K. summit in May provided a clear framework for deepening the relationship, not least through a Security and Defense Partnership that paves the way for British participation in European defense programs. But the U.K. government has remained far too cautious in other areas. Most notably, Starmer has been careful not to cross the Labour Party's self-imposed red lines: no freedom of movement, no customs union and no single market. Future historians may well wonder why Starmer did not aim higher. The changing international environment offers Starmer a clear opportunity to redraw Europe's political map, which would establish him as one of Britain's most consequential leaders. But to do so, Starmer must convince British voters that today's Europe is a different creature from the one they imagine: a defense community that is more focused on safeguarding the continent than on transcending the nation-state. And he must explain how the U.K. can help build this new European security order, so long as it banishes the Brexit mindset. As a post-liberal Europe emerges, Britain must stop clinging to the past and seize the chance to shape the continent's future in a way that advances its interests. That requires acknowledging that both the EU and the U.K. have entered a new era. Mark Leonard, director of the European Council on Foreign Relations, is the author of "The Age of Unpeace: How Connectivity Causes Conflict" (Bantam Press, 2021). © Project Syndicate, 2025
The National
a day ago
- Politics
- The National
Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun visits Bahrain as Gulf diplomatic reset continues
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun arrived in Bahrain on Tuesday for a two-day state visit, the latest stop in Beirut's push to repair and deepen ties with Gulf Arab states. Mr Aoun, accompanied by Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji, is expected to meet King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral co-operation, particularly in political, economic and cultural sectors, the Lebanese presidency said. On arrival, Mr Aoun said he was looking forward to 'productive meetings' with the Bahraini leadership to explore avenues for bilateral collaboration, and to exchange views on regional and international development. ' Lebanon values its rooted ties with Bahrain … and we are working together in a spirit that serves the interests of our peoples amid the region's complex challenges,' he said. Since taking office in January, Mr Aoun has placed rebuilding Lebanon's relationships with Gulf countries at the centre of his foreign policy agenda. The former army chief, elected after more than two years of a presidential vacuum, wasted no time in launching a diplomatic charm offensive. His first overseas trip was to Saudi Arabia. He has also visited the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait. Mr Rajji called on the country to reopen its embassy in Beirut, in an interview with Bahraini daily newspaper Al Ayyam, after Bahrain's ambassador to Lebanon Wahid Mubarak Sayyar had said it was preparing to do so and that work was under way to appoint a resident ambassador. Bahrain was among several Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait, that withdrew their ambassadors from Beirut in October 2021 following remarks by then information minister George Kordahi, who criticised the Saudi-led military intervention in Yemen. His comments triggered a diplomatic crisis, reflecting deeper Gulf concerns over Iran's growing influence in Lebanon through Hezbollah, the powerful Shiite movement that wields military and political power. Relations remained strained for years. But Gulf engagement has gradually resumed in the aftermath of the war between Hezbollah and Israel, which concluded in November. The Iran-backed group was severely weakened by the war. Israel's military campaign destroyed much of Hezbollah's infrastructure, infiltrated its security network and eliminated the group's leader and senior commanders. Lebanon now is under international pressure to disarm Hezbollah. The US ties reconstruction aid and a halt to Israeli army operations to the group's full disarmament around the country. Battered by war and economic collapse, the country is in urgent need of Arab and international support to begin reconstruction and revive its shattered economy. As part of the broader thaw, the UAE and Kuwait lifted travel bans on Lebanon, allowing their citizens to return after years of absence. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon have agreed to examine obstacles preventing the resumption of Lebanese exports to the kingdom and are exploring the possibility of restoring travel access for Saudi citizen to Beirut.
Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Free Malaysia Today
Macron to rekindle relationship with Francophile King Charles on UK visit
Emmanuel Macron is the first European leader to be invited for a state visit since King Charles assumed the throne. (AP pic) LONDON : French-speaking King Charles III, who is hosting President Emmanuel Macron for a state visit starting on Tuesday, professes a long-standing love of France, describing it as 'an essential part' of his life. The visit, at the invitation of the monarch, is a rare privilege full of spectacular pomp and circumstance and an opportunity to strengthen a bilateral relationship which the king called 'indispensable' during his visit to France in September 2023. That visit, hailed as a symbol of 'cordial detente' after Brexit, demonstrated a closeness between the two heads of state on issues such as Ukraine, but also on a personal level. 'If you see their body language, and this was particularly noticeable during the state visit… it does seem that they get on tremendously well,' said monarchy expert Richard Fitzwilliams. Macron touched the monarch on the shoulder several times during the visit, a casual gesture unthinkable in the time of Elizabeth II, but the king took no offence. Brigitte Macron and Queen Camilla, who share a love of literature, exchange kisses whenever they meet, even though official protocol dictates a curtsy. As well as Ukraine, the two men also share common ground on topics such as the environment. 'Inspired and encouraged by my grandmother's and my late mother's example, France has been an essential part of the fabric of my own life for as long as I can remember,' Charles declared before the French Senate in September 2023, in a speech delivered largely in French, which earned him a standing ovation. Like his mother, Elizabeth II, who often visited France and met every French president from Vincent Auriol to Macron, Charles III learnt French from childhood. He reads it fluently and speaks it with a hint of an accent. La vie en rose He has made more than 35 official visits to France since the 1970s, and according to him, Edith Piaf's 'La Vie en rose' remains one of his favourite songs. Macron is the first European leader to be invited for a state visit since Charles III assumed the throne. The king's first state visit abroad was originally scheduled to also take place in France in March 2023 but was postponed due to social unrest. The French couple's state visit will take place at Windsor Castle, as Buckingham Palace is undergoing renovations, and will follow the standard schedule. There are on average two of these visits per year, and preparation for them generally takes around a year. The Prince and Princess of Wales will greet the French presidential couple on landing and accompany them on the journey to Windsor, west of London, where they will be officially welcomed by the King and Queen. They will join a carriage procession through the town, attend a military parade and take lunch with the royal family at the castle. Macron and his wife will visit the Palace of Westminster in London on Tuesday, where the French president will address parliamentarians for a 'very political' speech, according to the Elysee Palace. The day will end with a state dinner, including speeches by the King and the French leader in front of some 150 guests. On Wednesday, Emmanuel Macron will lay flowers on the grave of Queen Elizabeth II, who died in September 2022, at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle and will tour the gardens. He will attend Thursday's Franco-British summit, the second since they resumed in 2023 after being suspended due to Brexit, before leaving with his wife later in the day. US President Donald Trump has also been invited for a state visit this year and is expected in September, but no date has yet been officially announced.
Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Macron kicks off ‘historic' UK state visit
Britain's King Charles is believed to enjoy a warm rapport with French President Emmanuel Macron. (AP pic) WINDSOR : French President Emmanuel Macron received a warm and pomp-filled welcome today from King Charles III as he began a three-day state visit to Britain, the first by an EU head of state since Brexit. Macron, accompanied by his wife Brigitte, hailed an 'important moment for our two nations' after landing and heading straight for Windsor, west of London, to meet the British monarch. 'Together, we will address the major challenges of our time: security, defence, nuclear energy, space, innovation, artificial intelligence, migration, and culture,' he posted on X. The French leader added that Paris and London were seeking to 'deepen our cooperation in a concrete, effective, and lasting way'. The first state visit by an EU head of state since the UK's acrimonious 2020 departure from the European Union, it is also the first by a French president since Nicolas Sarkozy in 2008. During his visit, Macron will hold several meetings with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. After taking power in 2024, the British leader has been making good on his pledge to reset relations with European capitals following years of Brexit-fuelled tensions. Their discussions are expected to focus on aid to war-torn Ukraine and bolstering defence spending, as well as joint efforts to stop migrants from crossing the Channel in small boats – a potent political issue in Britain. Calling the visit 'historic', Starmer's office said it would showcase 'the breadth of the existing relationship' between Britain and France. Windsor pomp Macron and his wife Brigitte were greeted off the presidential plane today at an air base northwest of London by heir-to-the-throne Prince William and his wife Catherine, Princess of Wales. In a stylistic nod to her guests, the princess wore a Christian Dior jacket. A short time later Charles and his wife, Queen Camilla, warmly welcomed the entourage to Windsor, amid a full display of British pomp and pageantry. The Francophile king, who is believed to enjoy a warm rapport with Macron, could be seen chatting with him enthusiastically during their early interactions. Charles made a 2023 state visit to France, one of his first after ascending the throne and widely regarded as a success. After a 41-gun salute sounded from nearby Home Park and a royal carriage procession through the town, which was decked out in French Tricolores and British Union flags, the group entered the castle for lunch. They will return there later for a state banquet in the vast medieval St George's Hall, when in a speech Charles is set to laud the vital partnership between France and the UK amid a 'multitude of complex threats'. 'As friends and as allies, we face them together,' he will say, according to Buckingham Palace. Before that, Macron will follow in the footsteps of predecessors Charles de Gaulle and Francois Mitterrand by addressing lawmakers in the UK parliament. The visit also aims to boost trade and business ties, with Paris and London announcing today that French energy giant EDF will have a 12.5-stake in new British nuclear power plant Sizewell C. 'Support for Ukraine' Tomorrow, Macron will have lunch with Starmer and the two leaders will on Thursday co-host the 37th Franco-British Summit, where they are set to discuss opportunities to strengthen defence ties. Britain and France are spearheading talks amongst a 30-nation coalition on how to support a possible ceasefire in Ukraine, including potentially deploying peacekeeping forces. The two leaders will dial in to a meeting of the coalition on Thursday 'to discuss stepping up support for Ukraine and further increasing pressure on Russia', Starmer's office confirmed yesterday. They will speak to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, according to the French presidency. Irregular migration is also set to feature in talks between Macron and Starmer. The British leader is under intense pressure to curb cross-Channel arrivals, as Eurosceptic Nigel Farage's hard-right Reform UK party uses the issue to fuel its rise. London has for years pressed Paris to do more to halt the boats leaving from northern French beaches, welcoming footage last Friday showing French police stopping one such boat from departing. Meanwhile, speculation is rife that Macron will use the visit to announce an update on his previous offer to loan the Bayeux Tapestry to Britain. It emerged in 2018 that he had agreed to loan the embroidery, which depicts the 1066 Norman conquest of England, but the move has since stalled. The UK government said yesterday that it continued to 'work closely with our counterparts in France on its planned loan'.
The Independent
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Stephen Flynn jokes he'll be ‘washing hair' when Donald Trump visits UK
Stephen Flynn joked he will be washing his hair when Donald Trump is in the UK for his state visit in September. The Scottish National Party's (SNP) Westminster leader, who is bald, told Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg that he will find "any excuse possible" to avoid meeting the US president on his visit to Scotland. While insisting it was 'absolutely right' that First Minister John Swinney meets Mr Trump, Mr Flynn quipped that he'd be 'looking after his own toddlers' while the Republican is in the country.
