In Biden's first state visit, French President Macron says U.S. must stand with democracies amid Russian aggression

1 year ago 71

French President Emmanuel Macron and U.S. President Joe Biden basal unneurotic onstage during an authoritative State Arrival Ceremony for President Macron connected the South Lawn of the White House successful Washington, U.S., December 1, 2022. 

Elizabeth Frantz | Reuters

Standing beside U.S. President Joe Biden astatine the White House, French President Emmanuel Macron said the 2 antiauthoritarian nations indispensable erstwhile again go "brothers successful arms" amid Russia's onslaught connected Ukraine.

Macron made the comments during the welcoming ceremonial Thursday of Biden's archetypal authorities visit. He and Macron are holding a associated property league astatine 11:45 a.m. ET, followed by a authorities meal aboriginal successful the evening. The president chose to big France successful grant of its presumption arsenic the U.S.'s oldest ally.

Both leaders stressed the value of maintaining a adjacent confederation astatine this uncertain time.

"As warfare returns to European ungraded pursuing Russia's aggression against Ukraine and successful airy of the aggregate crises our nations and each societies face, we request to go brothers successful arms erstwhile more," Macron said.

Beyond subject aggression, Macron said the confederation indispensable stay beardown arsenic ideology itself is being questioned astir the world.

"Our democracies connected some sides of the water are being shaken by the aforesaid doubts arsenic to our quality to beryllium sufficiently beardown and effectual erstwhile it comes to the challenges we stock of clime to authorities to technology," Macron said. "They're successful uncertainty successful the look of reluctance, hatred speech, mendacious accusation and today's fears."

Macron's remarks echoed those of Biden who spoke first. Biden excessively highlighted the spot of the confederation arsenic Russia invades Ukraine which helium said "has erstwhile much shattered bid connected the continent of Europe."

Citing France's assistance to the United States during the Revolutionary War, Biden said the countries' committedness to ideology was essential.

"France and the United States are erstwhile again defending the antiauthoritarian values and cosmopolitan quality rights which are the hearts of some our nations," Biden said. "We are proving to radical astir the satellite that democracies present from our associated leadership."

Despite the speech of relationship and request to jointly code clime change, Macron has been captious of clime provisions successful Biden's signature Inflation Reduction Act. Macron criticized the instrumentality astatine a luncheon connected Wednesday and successful a code astatine the French Embassy.

European leaders, Macron said, interest the immense taxation incentives would thrust companies from Europe to the U.S. to make climate-friendly exertion similar electrical vehicles.

The Inflation Reduction Act, which became instrumentality successful August, allocated $369 cardinal toward addressing clime alteration done cleanable vigor initiatives. The bulk of the investment, astir $270 billion, is done nonstop taxation incentives.

Macron connected Wednesday said the caller instrumentality volition marque companies successful the U.S. think, "We don't marque investments immoderate much connected the different broadside of the Atlantic."

Read Entire Article