Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Sheikh Qassem: Our supporters make up more than half of Lebanon's population, and all of these people are united under the banner of protecting Lebanon, its Resistance, its people, and its integrity.
Sheikh Qassem: There will be no phased handing in of our arms. [The Israelis] must first enact the agreement before we start talking about a defensive strategy.
Sheikh Qassem: Be brave in the face of foreign pressures, and we will be by your side in this stance.
Sheikh Qassem: Stripping us of our arms is like stripping us of our very soul, and this will prompt us to show them our might.
Sheikh Qassem: We will not abandon our arms, for they gave us dignity; we will not abandon our arms, for they protect us against our enemy.
Sheikh Qassem: The US efforts we are seeing are aimed at sabotaging Lebanon and constitute a call for sedition.
Sheikh Qassem: If you truly want to establish sovereignty and work for Lebanon’s interests, then stop the aggression.
Sheikh Qassem: The United States, which is meddling in Lebanon, is not trustworthy but rather poses a danger to it.
Sheikh Qassem: The United States is preventing the weapons that protect the homeland.
Sheikh Qassem: The government’s latest decision [on the disarmament of the Resistance] is non-charter-based, and if the government continues down this path, it is not faithful to Lebanon’s sovereignty.

Biden to host Macron at state dinner to discuss Iran, China, Africa

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 29 Nov 2022 09:48
4 Min Read

Biden and Macron have differed on the matter of aiding Ukraine to restore peace talks with Russia, which Biden insisted is a ball that is in Ukraine's court.

  • x
  • Joe Biden and Emmanuel Macron (AFP)
    Joe Biden and Emmanuel Macron (AFP)

French leader Emmanuel Macron is expected to visit the White House on Wednesday for the state dinner and a talk with US President and host Joe Biden, in a mark of tying more close-knit relations between the latter and what spokesperson for the National Security Council John Kirby called the US' "oldest ally". 

The first part of his visit will take off at NASA Headquarters with Vice President Kamala Harris, followed by a welcome ceremony for him and his wife Brigitte Macron by Joe Biden and his wife, Jill Biden. Then, Macron and Biden will conduct bilateral meetings before concluding with the state dinner Thursday night. 

France in June signed the Artemis Accords, which advocated for NASA’s plans to return humans to the moon by 2024 and to launch a human mission to Mars. At the same time and same month, the US and France cooperated on an initiative to adapt to climate change, called the Space for Climate Observatory.

Kirby stated in light of the updates, “This is an opportunity to highlight a foundational component of this administration's approach to foreign policy and that's through alliances,” adding, “France is a vital global partner and, of course, [the] United States’ oldest ally.”

“You can expect to see on display both our long shared history as allies as well as our deep partnership in taking on the most urgent global challenges of today and tomorrow,” Kirby said, after he insisted France be hosted at the dinner as a show of evidence regarding the fortification of alliances.

As tensions rose after the US announced its intent to sell nuclear submarines to Australia as part of a deal, France not only recalled its Ambassador to Washington but the presidents met in Rome for the G20 summit, where Biden attempted to put a bandaid on the wound by acknowledging his administration's "clumsiness" in handling the issue.

Ever since, Biden and Macron have found a common ground by condemning the war in Ukraine and imposing illegal sanctions against Russia. 

Straightening out priorities

On the mutual agenda for Thursday's meeting, Iran’s nuclear deal ranks among the most pressing, alongside China's presence in the Indo-Pacific and the insecurity and turmoil in Africa’s Sahel region.

The GOP may not see this state dinner in a positive light, as incoming Speaker Kevin McCarthy rejected the idea of sending a “blank check” for Ukraine, after a warning by Republicans to the Biden administration of impending audits as they take over the House in January. 

“If you look at what’s going on in Ukraine, look at what’s going on in the Indo Pacific and the tensions with China, France is really at the center of all those things,” Kirby said, as he continued, “And so the president felt that this was exactly the right and the most appropriate country to start with for state visits.”

Biden and Macron have differed on the matter of aiding Ukraine to restore peace talks with Russia, which Biden insisted is a ball that is in Ukraine's court.

Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act has also caused a slight drift between the US and Europe, as it encourages consumers to buy electric vehicles manufactured and made in the US. Macron expressed earlier this month that this could cause an imbalance in the “level playing field” on trade with the EU, calling the Act “unfriendly".

On a separate note, part of Macron's agenda for the visit involves heading to the state of New Orleans on Friday, where according to French officials, he intends to expand French language education in US schools.

  • state dinner
  • US
  • Emmanuel Macron
  • France
  • Ukraine
  • Joe Biden

Most Read

Tom Artiom Alexandrovich, executive director of the defense division of the Israeli National Cyber Directorate, undated (Social media)

Israeli-born US prosecutor drops Israeli officer child sex crime

  • Politics
  • 19 Aug 2025
Almost instantly after the Helsinki Accords were signed, organisations sprouted to document purported violations, whose findings were fed to overseas embassies for international amplification. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab el-Hajj)

How ‘Human Rights’ became a Western weapon

  • Opinion
  • 23 Aug 2025
Israeli soldiers stand on the top of armoured vehicles parked on an area near the Israeli-Gaza border, as seen from southern Israel, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 (AP)

Palestinian fighters target Israeli soldiers, vehicles in Gaza

  • Politics
  • 21 Aug 2025
Launch of a ballistic missile from Yemen toward the occupied Palestinian territories. (YAF military media)

Yemeni Forces announce firing hypersonic missile at Al-Lydd Airport

  • Politics
  • 22 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference at the Prime minister's office in al-Quds, Occupied Palestine, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Netanyahu deliberately derailing truce with Gaza occupation: Hamas

Irish President Michael Higgins arrives to deliver his speech during a 42nd World Food Day celebration at FAO headquarters in Rome, on Oct. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Politics

Irish president renews call for UN military intervention in Gaza

US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the US Embassy in Aukar, northern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, July 21, 2025 (AP)
Politics

US envoy, Netanyahu discuss restraining attacks on Lebanon, withdrawal

Smoke billows following Israeli airstrikes in multiple areas in Sanaa, Yemen, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ansar Allah vow sustained Gaza support despite Israeli strikes

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS