French President Emmanuel Macron has warned that the United Kingdom and France must reduce their “dual dependencies” on the United States and China, calling for greater cooperation to counter global instability.
His remarks were made during a speech to both Houses of the British Parliament on the opening day of a state visit that has been described as a symbolic reset of post-Brexit relations.
Addressing lawmakers in the Royal Gallery of the Palace of Westminster, Macron stated: “We must de-risk our economies and our societies from this dual dependency. If we still depend on both China and the US, we know what future lies ahead for us and our children.” He identified supply chain vulnerabilities, aggressive trade subsidies, and diverging digital standards as sources of concern, citing both countries’ growing impact on European strategic autonomy.
Macron distinguished between the two powers, calling the United States a “strong ally” and China a “challenger – sometimes a partner” in areas such as climate cooperation. However, he said both presented structural challenges to Europe’s capacity to act independently, especially in trade, technology, and defence procurement.
The state visit – the first by a European leader since Brexit and the first by a French president since Nicolas Sarkozy in 2008 – was marked by ceremonial pageantry and a series of political and cultural exchanges. Macron was welcomed at Windsor Castle by King Charles III, along with the Prince and Princess of Wales. The French president later travelled by carriage to the Houses of Parliament, where he delivered his address beneath paintings of the Battles of Waterloo and Trafalgar.
In his speech, Macron emphasised the need for the UK and France to act together in response to shared threats. “The only way to overcome the challenges of our time is to go together, hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder,” he said, citing cooperation in defence, migration, climate policy, and artificial intelligence.
Macron also advocated for enhanced cultural and educational exchange. He called for a youth mobility scheme to facilitate the movement of students, researchers, and artists, warning that without such initiatives “our societies may grow apart, and our young people may end up strangers.” The proposal received strong applause, including from Labour ministers.
The visit is seen as an important moment in the UK’s efforts to reset relations with European allies following years of diplomatic friction over Brexit. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government has sought to reposition Britain as a reliable European partner, particularly on security and migration. British officials have been working towards a possible returns agreement with France, whereby asylum seekers with no valid claim in the UK could be returned in exchange for accepting those with verified family ties. Although no deal was announced during the visit, discussions are ongoing.
Tensions over migration persist, with a record number of asylum seekers arriving in Britain by small boats in the first half of 2025. Starmer, facing pressure from the opposition Reform UK party led by Nigel Farage, is seeking a bilateral solution. France, however, has so far declined to agree to such a scheme unless it forms part of an EU-wide framework.
The theme of cooperation was echoed by King Charles III at a state banquet at Windsor Castle. The monarch proposed an upgrade to the 1904 Entente Cordiale, declaring a new “Entente Amicale” to reflect a future-oriented Franco-British friendship. “An entente not only past and present, but for the future – and no longer just cordiale, but now amicale,” he said.
Cultural diplomacy featured prominently during the visit. Macron confirmed that France would loan the Bayeux Tapestry to the UK for public display for the first time in more than 900 years. In return, the UK will lend Anglo-Saxon and Viking artefacts to France.
Economic cooperation was also reinforced, with French energy company EDF announcing a £1.1 billion investment in a nuclear power project in eastern England. The agreement was presented as a concrete example of Franco-British economic alignment in strategic sectors.
Throughout his address, Macron linked foreign policy with democratic resilience, drawing attention to the growing influence of algorithmic manipulation and disinformation. He criticised the impact of social media on public discourse, likening the behavioural techniques of US technology companies to politically motivated interference by hostile states.
“What is at stake today in Europe is the defence of democratic models amid foreign interference, information manipulation, domination of minds by negative emotions and addictions to social media,” he said. While the EU has pursued regulation of digital platforms, the UK has opted for a less restrictive approach, including offering tax incentives to major US tech firms.
Macron’s visit continues with further engagements on defence, trade, and cross-Channel cooperation. Both governments are expected to release joint statements later in the week as part of what officials are calling a “strategic reorientation” of Franco-British relations.
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