Beginning his first state visit to the United States, French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte landed in Washington on Monday, 23 April, where they were received by US President Donald Trump and the First Lady Melania Trump.
Macron is expected to bring up two contentious issues during his visit — trade and the nuclear accord with Iran.
As Macron headed to the United States, the Iranian government urged European leaders to convince Trump not to tear up the 2015 deal between Tehran and six world powers.
The French president said on Sunday, 23 April, there was no “Plan B” for keeping a lid on Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.
Macron seems to be on a mission to save Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which Trump has said he would scrap unless European allies fix by mid-May what he calls “terrible flaws.”
This visit is very important in our current context, with so many uncertainties, troubles and at times threats.Emmanuel Macron, as he arrived in Washington
Minutes after Macron touched down in the United States, the White House said it had no announcements on the Iran deal.
"The president has been extremely clear that he thinks it's a bad deal. That certainly has not changed," White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said.
Macron said, on ‘Fox News Sunday’, that it would be better to protect the deal instead of getting rid of it. "Is this agreement perfect and this JCPOA a perfect thing for our relationship with Iran? No. But for nuclear, what do you have as a better option? I don't see it," he said.
Trump’s First State Visit
Macron's visit is the first time Trump has hosted a state visit since he took power in January 2017.
While the French leader has tried to develop a close relationship with Trump since he took office last May, he has so far seen few tangible results on issues from Iran to climate politics.
Macron and his wife, Brigitte, shortly after their arrival at the Blair House residence, took quickly to the streets of Washington, walking past the White House complex to the Lincoln Memorial and greeting tourists.
Macron brought with him an oak tree sapling to be planted on the South Lawn of the White House. Trump and Macron shovelled dirt on the freshly planted tree as the cameras clicked. "France is a very special country," said Trump. "It's a great honour."
Working meetings will be held at the White House on Tuesday before Macron addresses the US Congress the following day, the anniversary of the day French General Charles de Gaulle addressed a joint session of Congress in 1960.
Trade Talks
Iran has long maintained that its nuclear program was for peaceful purposes.
Macron also wants to persuade Trump to exempt European nations from metal tariffs that are part of the US president's plan to reduce chronic trade deficits with countries around the world, chiefly China.
His visit comes at a time of mounting alarm in Europe over the effect that U.S. sanctions on Russia will have on their own manufacturing industries.
French officials said Paris and other European governments were coordinating efforts to persuade Trump to ease sanctions on Russia, including measures against Russian aluminum producers.
There are concerns raised by the extraterritoriality effects of the new sets of sanctions. Europeans... have jointly warned the US administration about the economic impact and consequences and the need to find solutions.A french finance ministry source
Syria
Macron and Trump are also due to discuss Syria less than two weeks after the United States, France and Britain launched air strikes there in retaliation for a suspected chemical weapons attack that killed dozens.
Macron said last week he believed he had persuaded Trump to keep US troops in Syria, though Trump has been insistent on bringing them home.
(With inputs from Reuters)
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