Hear
PARIS.- In another speech during his visit to France, the American president, Joe Bidenpromised this Saturday that the United States will remain “firm” with Ukraine in his fight against the Russian invasion, and warned that the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, “will not stop” there.
““All of Europe will be threatened, we are not going to let this happen.”Biden said in Paris with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macronafter a bilateral meeting.
The war in Gaza was a harsher topic in the dialogue between Biden and Macron, since the United States is Israel’s main ally and France distanced itself from the way in which the Israeli Army carries out the offensive against the Palestinian terrorist group. Hamas.
At the end of May, French authorities had banned Israeli arms manufacturers from participating in a defense trade fair near Paris.
This Saturday, after the announcement of the rescue of four Israelis kidnapped from Gaza, Biden affirmed that his country will not stop working “until all the hostages are back home and there is a ceasefire.”
Biden arrived in France on Thursday to participate in the ceremonies marking the 80th anniversary of the Normandy Landings on June 6, 1944, which helped liberate Europe from Nazi occupation.
The 81-year-old Democratic president reiterated on several occasions the value of the alliance with Europe and stated that his government defends continuing its support for Ukraine, which is facing difficulties on the military front more than two years after the start of the invasion. Russian in February 2022.
Biden has his sights set on his campaign for re-election in November against the former Republican president Donald Trump, who defends more isolationist policies, as Macron faces an electoral test this weekend in the European Parliament elections.
Macron, 46, thanked Biden “for being the president of the leading world power,” but for acting “with the loyalty of a partner who loves and respects Europeans.”
Trump regularly criticizes the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and in February raised concerns by stating that he would “encourage” Russia to do whatever it wanted with members of the military pact in default on their contributions, if he wins the elections in November. in United States.
Biden’s state visit to France began on Saturday with a ceremony with Macron at the Arc de Triomphe, where they laid a wreath at the monument of the Unknown Soldier and drove along the Champs-Elysées avenue, escorted by 140 horses and 38 motorcyclists.
Macron then received Biden at the Elysee Palace for a meeting, followed by a working lunch and then a gala dinner.
The war in Ukraine was at the center of the agenda and the conflict also marked the commemoration of D-Day, to which Putin was not invited, contrary to what happened 10 years ago.
Both Biden and Macron met with Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky in Paris on Friday.and they promised to maintain support for kyiv.
The American president offered Zelensky his “apologies” for the months of negotiations that preceded the complicated adoption by Congress of a $61 billion aid package for Ukraine.
Among other commitments, Zelensky also got Paris to give him Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets, although the number was not disclosed, and the training of Ukrainian pilots in France, with the aim of being operational by the end of the year.
Regarding the war in the Gaza Strip, the two leaders agreed work harder to avoid a regional escalation and noted that they will also focus on calming tensions between the Jewish State and HezbollahMacron told reporters at the Elysee presidential palace, with Biden at his side.
”We are redoubling joint efforts to prevent a regional explosion, particularly in Lebanon,” Macron said.
Biden has been a staunch supporter of Israel, but the tens of thousands of Palestinian deaths soured his political base on the Middle East, hurting him in his race against Trump for re-election in November.
The day concluded with a dinner at the French presidential palace, where celebrities such as singer-songwriter Pharrell Williams and former tennis player John McEnroe joined political and business leaders.
Beyond Ukraine and the Middle East, trade issues on both sides of the Atlantic gained importance, especially in relation to the US Inflation Reduction Act, which Biden signed into law in August 2022.
European officials consider it a protectionist measure which diverts investments from EU companies.
”We wish to move towards a resynchronization of our economies, between that of the United States and the European one, in terms of regulation and in terms of investment levels”Macron said.
Agencies AFP, AP and Reuters
THE NATION
