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Biden Welcomes Macron for a State Dinner. Here’s What to Expect.


WASHINGTON — More than a year after a transatlantic resistance Threatening to worsen US-France relations, President Emmanuel Macron and his wife were at the White House on Thursday as guests of honor for the first state dinner since President Biden took office.

In the days leading up to the formal dinner, the first lady’s office, which handles most of the planning, went to great lengths to demonstrate that ties were strong as the White House marked the return of the White House. pompous diplomatic style that was largely adopted. hold during the pandemic.

“This dinner was inspired by the colors of our common flag,” said first lady Jill Biden, announcing the dinner menu and floral decorations. “And our common values: freedom and democracy, equality and fellowship. These form the foundation upon which our lasting friendship is built.”

Tributes range from the design of the menu to the glass of French-made wine. The leaders toasted with American-made wine, with the Statue of Liberty, a gift from France, in the background.

The White House has decided to place red roses and blue canaries next to the white iris, the official flower of France, on every table at dinner to symbolize the common colors of the nations.

The Macrons are expected to be treated to an assortment of American cheeses, including Oregon-based Rogue River Blue, winner of the 2019-2020 World Cheese Awards. A government official said the dinner would include more than 300 guests.

Jon Batiste, a Grammy Award-winning musician and composer, is set to perform with the United States Marine Corps Band. Biden noted on Wednesday that Batiste grew up in New Orleans, “which has been shaped by both French and American culture.”

“Our hope is that the end result will be a night that balances the beauty of our friendship with the seriousness of our purpose,” said Dr. Biden. “And we hope that French citizens everywhere feel our warm welcome.”

Both nations have been trying to reassure the world of the strength of their alliance in the 14 months since Mr. Biden reached an agreement to help Australia deploy nuclear-powered submarines, breaking supply contracts. earlier conventional French submarines and prompted Mr. Macron to recall his ambassador.

Mr. Biden later said the administration was “clumsy” in its handling of the deal and has since met Mr. Macron several times. On the eve of the official state dinner, the two presidents and their wives dined together at Fiola Mare, a waterfront Italian restaurant in Washington.

But challenges loomed.

The state dinner was set up to provide the opportunity for a diplomatic engagement with a key ally in the administration’s foreign policy strategy amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, global inflation and a global crisis. potential energy crisis in Europe.

Biden and Macron are likely to discuss the importance of a united front against Russia, as well as concerns about Iran’s nuclear program, according to a senior Biden administration official.


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France also warned the United States that the energy and climate law just passed by Mr Biden, which includes tax credits to entice consumers to buy US-made electric cars, would threaten a struggling European economy. struggling with inflation. While visiting the Library of Congress on Wednesday, Mr Macron told lawmakers that the Inflation Reduction Act was “extremely aggressive” towards European companies, according to an unnamed official to describe a private events.

Mr. Macron, who also attended the state dinner during the Trump administration, is also likely to stress the need to strengthen Europe’s defenses so that Europe does not need to depend on the US in times of conflict.

On Wednesday, Macron accompanied Vice President Kamala Harris to NASA headquarters to discuss space strategy between the two allies.

Célia Belin, a non-resident senior, said: “We’re at a point where transatlantic ties are connected in world history, where you’ve had a lot happen in four years. the past year, from the time Macron met Trump to the time Macron met Biden.” Fellows at the Brookings Institution focus on US policy towards Europe and French politics. “Americans know that in the face of Russia, what makes the West so strong is unity and solidarity.”

She said the state dinner could also be one of the final stages of reconciliation since the alliance’s lowest point after the announcement of the submarine deal.

Mr Macron and his wife Brigitte were given an official welcome on the South Lawn of the White House before the two world leaders held a bilateral meeting. Mr. Biden and Mr. Macron then held a joint press conference.

The leaders then returned to the South Lawn to dine under a tent erected to shield guests from the winter weather. While the squashes for the meal were picked from the garden of the White House, plates were rented. (Official White House porcelain was not allowed to leave the building to avoid damage.)

The menu, designed by Cristeta Comerford, White House executive chef, and Susie Morrison, pastry chef, includes butter-boiled Maine lobster, followed by beef with shallot jam and cooked avocado potatoes.

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