Macron Urges UK to Stay Close as Europe Faces New Threats

LONDON (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday urged Britain to maintain close ties with its neighbors despite its exit from the European Union, emphasizing that France and the UK will “save Europe” by standing for democracy, law, and international order in an increasingly dangerous world.

During a state visit that combined royal pageantry with substantive political discussions on Ukraine and migration, Macron stressed that Europe must bolster its economy and defenses while reducing its dependence “on both the US and China.”

Macron’s three-day trip, at the invitation of King Charles III, marks the first state visit to the UK by a European Union head of state since Brexit. It symbolizes the UK government’s desire to reset relations with the bloc following Britain’s contentious departure in 2020.

Addressing members of both houses of Britain’s Parliament in the ornate Royal Gallery, Macron declared that the two countries represent “a world order based on law, justice, and respect for territorial integrity, an order that is currently under daily attack.”

“The United Kingdom and France must once again demonstrate to the world that our alliance can make a crucial difference,” Macron asserted, adding, “We will save Europe through our example and our solidarity.”

He emphasized that even though Britain has left the EU, “the United Kingdom cannot remain on the sidelines. Defense and security, competitiveness, democracy — the very core of our identity — are interconnected across Europe as a continent.”

The French president and his wife, Brigitte Macron, were treated to the full splendor of British ceremonial hospitality, a stark contrast to the frosty relations of 2022 when then-Foreign Secretary Liz Truss remarked that the “jury is out” on whether Macron was a friend or foe.

The Macrons were greeted at London’s RAF Northolt air base by Prince William and his wife Catherine — who wore a dress by French design house Christian Dior — before meeting King Charles and Queen Camilla in Windsor, west of London.

They were transported to the nearly 1,000-year-old royal residence of Windsor Castle in horse-drawn carriages, passing through streets adorned with Union Jacks and French tricolor flags.

On Tuesday evening, the king and queen hosted a banquet for the Macrons at Windsor Castle, attended by 160 guests including politicians, diplomats, and celebrities such as Mick Jagger and Elton John. The menu featured summer vegetables, chicken with asparagus, and iced blackcurrant parfait, accompanied by Champagne and a gin-infused cocktail called L’entente, named after the “entente cordiale” established between Britain and France in 1904.

While Charles, as monarch, is expected to remain above politics, he addressed the support Britain and France provide to Ukraine “in defense of our shared values,” acknowledged the challenge of “irregular migration across the English Channel,” and noted that both countries face “complex threats emanating from multiple directions.”

“As friends and allies, we confront these challenges together,” Charles stated.

The political agenda will take center stage on Wednesday when Macron meets with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to discuss migration, defense, and investment — including a 12.5 percent stake by French energy firm EDF in a new nuclear power plant planned for eastern England.

Macron also brought an exciting cultural offering: an agreement to send the Bayeux Tapestry to Britain for the first time in over 900 years. The 230-foot (70-meter) tapestry depicting the Norman conquest of England in 1066 will be exhibited at the British Museum from September 2026 to July 2027.

During talks on Wednesday and a UK-France summit on Thursday, Macron and Starmer will explore ways to prevent migrants from crossing the English Channel in small boats and aim to advance plans for a post-ceasefire security force for Ukraine, despite apparent US indifference to the idea and Russia’s refusal to halt its aggression against its neighbor.

While Britain receives fewer asylum-seekers than Mediterranean European countries, thousands of migrants each year use northern France as a launching point to reach the UK, either by concealing themselves in trucks or — following a crackdown on that route — in small boats across one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.

The UK has established a series of agreements with France over the years to enhance beach patrols and share intelligence in an effort to disrupt smuggling operations.

However, these measures have had limited impact. Approximately 37,000 people were detected crossing the English Channel in small boats in 2024, and more than 20,000 made the crossing in the first six months of 2025, a 50 percent increase from the same period last year. Tragically, dozens of people have lost their lives attempting the crossing.

British officials have been urging French police to take more forceful action to stop the boats and welcomed recent reports of officers slashing rubber dinghies with knives.

France is also considering a UK proposal for a “one-in, one-out” deal that would involve France accepting back some migrants who reached Britain, in exchange for the UK taking in some of those currently in France.

Macron stated that the leaders would strive “to address what is currently a burden for our two countries.” He added, “France and the UK share a responsibility to tackle irregular migration with humanity, solidarity, and fairness.”

Starmer and Macron have worked closely together to rally support for Ukraine, although they have taken different approaches to US President Donald Trump, with Macron more willing to challenge the American leader than the more diplomatic Starmer.

Britain and France have spearheaded efforts to establish an international peacekeeping force for Ukraine to reinforce a future ceasefire with European troops and equipment, along with US security guarantees.

However, Trump has shown little enthusiasm for this idea, and a ceasefire remains elusive. British officials maintain that the “coalition of the willing” concept is very much alive, with Macron and Starmer scheduled to join an international videoconference on Thursday to discuss planning for the force.

Macron asserted that the coalition signifies that “Europeans will never abandon Ukraine – never.”