U.S. President Joe Biden to Make First State Visit to France

Paris, The Gulf Observer: French President Emmanuel Macron’s office announced on Thursday that U.S. President Joe Biden will undertake his inaugural state visit to France next week, following his participation in the 80th anniversary commemorations of D-Day in Normandy, as reported by the Associated Press. President Macron will host President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden on June 8, according to the statement.

During the visit, both leaders will engage in discussions concerning “the need for unwavering, long-term support for Ukraine,” particularly pertinent as conflict resurfaces in Europe, eight decades after the momentous landings that precipitated the liberation of France and the continent from Nazi Germany’s occupation, Macron’s office affirmed.

The forthcoming commemorations in Normandy are poised to assemble 25 heads of state and government, alongside numerous World War II veterans, to pay homage to the nearly 160,000 troops from Britain, the United States, Canada, and other nations who landed on June 6, 1944.

Among the attendees expected in Normandy is Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

President Biden’s state visit will foster “close coordination” between France and the U.S. on global crises, in anticipation of upcoming international gatherings, including the summit of the Group of Seven major economies in Italy next month and the NATO summit in Washington in July.

Conversations during the visit will extend to climate-related issues and seek to bolster bilateral cooperation, with a particular emphasis on economic, space, and nuclear collaboration, as delineated in the statement.

The state visit reciprocates the hospitality extended to President Macron and his wife Brigitte during their visit to the U.S. in December 2022.