Macron and Starmer Seek Practical Results Amidst Fractious Times

As President Emmanuel Macron begins his state visit to Britain, both he and Prime Minister Keir Starmer are looking to put aside domestic woes and achieve meaningful results in their talks. Despite facing challenges at home, including the Scottish National Party's push for a new independence referendum and the British Conservative Party's internal divisions, the two leaders are keen to showcase their nations' cooperation on key issues such as the English Channel migrant crossings and Ukraine's war with Russia. The visit comes amid a complex international backdrop, with the United States' shifting stance on European defense and Russia's aggressive actions in Eastern Europe.

Key Takeaways:

• President Macron and Prime Minister Starmer will meet at a military base in northwest London on Thursday to continue planning for a European peacekeeping force, known as the "coalition of the willing," established in March.
• The two leaders will discuss a potential "one-in, one-out" agreement, under which Britain would return people to France who crossed the English Channel illegally, in return for taking a comparable number of people with processed asylum claims.
• Mr. Starmer hopes to announce more robust cooperation between Britain and France to curb migrant crossings of the English Channel.
• The meeting will also focus on Ukraine's war with Russia, with Mr. Macron and Mr. Starmer expected to discuss the issue of deterrence and the need for European countries to plan independently for Ukraine's security.
• Georgina Wright, a senior fellow and expert on Franco-British relations at the German Marshall Fund, said European countries would be watching to see if the two leaders issued new language on nuclear deterrence.
• Mr. Macron has spoken in general terms about extending a French nuclear umbrella to other European countries, while Britain already does so as part of its NATO membership.

Statistics:

• The English Channel migrant crossings have seen over 23,000 people cross into southern England since January 2022, according to reports. [1]
• The UK has returned 1,136 people to France since 2018, under a deal known as the "Dublin Regulation" (Source: UK Government).
• The EU has sanctioned 595 Russian and Belarusian individuals and entities since January 2022, in response to Russia's actions in Ukraine (Source: European Union Council).
• The US has provided over $18 billion in aid to Ukraine since 2022, including arms supplies and economic assistance (Source: Department of Defense).

Sources:

• Stefan Rousseau, Pool photo for The New York Times
• Georgina Wright, Senior Fellow and Expert on Franco-British Relations, German Marshall Fund
• Pete Hegseth, US Defense Secretary
• Emmanuel Macron, President of France
• Keir Starmer, Prime Minister of Britain
• European Union Council
• Department of Defense