King Charles helps 'reinvigorate' shaken UK-France relations

[ad_1] <img sizes="96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/dee4/live/028c9500-5b34-11f0-a40e-a1af2950b220.png.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/dee4/live/028c9500-5b34-11f0-a40e-a1af2950b220.png.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/dee4/live/028c9500-5b34-11f0-a40e-a1af2950b220.png.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/dee4/live/028c9500-5b34-11f0-a40e-a1af2950b220.png.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/dee4/live/028c9500-5b34-11f0-a40e-a1af2950b220.png.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/dee4/live/028c9500-5b34-11f0-a40e-a1af2950b220.png.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/dee4/live/028c9500-5b34-11f0-a40e-a1af2950b220.png.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/dee4/live/028c9500-5b34-11f0-a40e-a1af2950b220.png.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Paul Kirby profile image" class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Paul Kirby Europe digital editor

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/bb63/live/b68cc5d0-5b47-11f0-a40e-a1af2950b220.png.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/bb63/live/b68cc5d0-5b47-11f0-a40e-a1af2950b220.png.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/bb63/live/b68cc5d0-5b47-11f0-a40e-a1af2950b220.png.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/bb63/live/b68cc5d0-5b47-11f0-a40e-a1af2950b220.png.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/bb63/live/b68cc5d0-5b47-11f0-a40e-a1af2950b220.png.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/bb63/live/b68cc5d0-5b47-11f0-a40e-a1af2950b220.png.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/bb63/live/b68cc5d0-5b47-11f0-a40e-a1af2950b220.png.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/bb63/live/b68cc5d0-5b47-11f0-a40e-a1af2950b220.png.webp" loading="eager" alt="BBC Treated image of King Charles and Emmanuel Macron." class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> BBC Few scenes convey British pomp and comfortable energy greater than the King and Queen in a carriage procession by means of the picturesque streets of Windsor. They're being joined on Tuesday by Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron for the primary state go to by a French president since 2008, and the primary by a European Union chief since Brexit.

The Prince and Princess of Wales shall be there too — a Royal Salute shall be fired and Macron will examine a guard of honour. However at a time of jeopardy in Europe, this three-day go to to Windsor and London guarantees way more than ceremony.

There's a real hope that the approaching days will make a distinction to each nations.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/d225/live/35c054c0-5b25-11f0-b5c5-012c5796682d.png.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/d225/live/35c054c0-5b25-11f0-b5c5-012c5796682d.png.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/d225/live/35c054c0-5b25-11f0-b5c5-012c5796682d.png.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/d225/live/35c054c0-5b25-11f0-b5c5-012c5796682d.png.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/d225/live/35c054c0-5b25-11f0-b5c5-012c5796682d.png.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/d225/live/35c054c0-5b25-11f0-b5c5-012c5796682d.png.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/d225/live/35c054c0-5b25-11f0-b5c5-012c5796682d.png.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/d225/live/35c054c0-5b25-11f0-b5c5-012c5796682d.png.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Getty Images Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer meets with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz onboard a train to the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, where all three were due to hold meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky " class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Getty Photos Macron and Starmer joined the German chancellor on a prepare journey to Kyiv just lately, sending a strong message of assist for Ukraine at a time when US dedication gave the impression to be flagging

Macron will deal with MPs and friends at Westminster, and he and Brigitte shall be handled to a state banquet again at Windsor. The journey will culminate with a UK-France summit, co-chaired by Sir Keir Starmer and Macron, throughout which the 2 governments hope to achieve an settlement on the return of irregular migrants.

They will even host Ukraine's chief by video as they attempt to preserve arms provides to his army.

However the wider query is how carefully aligned they will actually develop into, and whether or not they can put any lingering distrust after Brexit behind them.

And, on condition that the journey will contain a lot pageantry — with the tour transferring from the streets of Windsor, the quadrangle of the Fort and later to the Royal Gallery of the Palace of Westminster — how essential is King Charles III's function on this diplomacy?

Resetting a 'distinctive partnership'

It was lower than two months in the past that the UK and EU agreed to "reset" relations in London. Ties with France specifically had warmed significantly, pushed partly by private understanding but additionally strategic necessity.

The 2 neighbours have a lot in frequent: they're each nuclear powers and members of the United Nations Safety Council.

They're additionally each trying to replace a 15-year-old defence pact referred to as the Lancaster Home treaties, which established a ten,000-strong Mixed Joint Expeditionary Drive (CJEF), they usually have just lately been engaged on broadening it to incorporate different Nato and European nations.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/bfa4/live/1575e1d0-5b25-11f0-960d-e9f1088a89fe.png.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/bfa4/live/1575e1d0-5b25-11f0-960d-e9f1088a89fe.png.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/bfa4/live/1575e1d0-5b25-11f0-960d-e9f1088a89fe.png.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/bfa4/live/1575e1d0-5b25-11f0-960d-e9f1088a89fe.png.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/bfa4/live/1575e1d0-5b25-11f0-960d-e9f1088a89fe.png.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/bfa4/live/1575e1d0-5b25-11f0-960d-e9f1088a89fe.png.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/bfa4/live/1575e1d0-5b25-11f0-960d-e9f1088a89fe.png.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/bfa4/live/1575e1d0-5b25-11f0-960d-e9f1088a89fe.png.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Getty Images Keir Starmer is greeted by Emmanuel Macron ahead of the 'Coalition Of The Willing' summit in support of Ukraine at Elysee Palace on 27 March 2025 in Paris, France." class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Getty Photos Macron has seen a lot of Sir Keir currently at summits in London, Canada and The Hague — and Starmer has visited France 5 occasions since turning into PM

"It has at all times been a singular partnership," says former French ambassador to the UK Sylvie Bermann. "I believe this partnership shall be essential sooner or later."

All of that is unlikely to flee the discover of US President Donald Trump, who can be promised a state go to, his second to the UK, most likely in September.

King Charles is 'greater than a figurehead'

King Charles, who's 76, has already navigated some complicated royal diplomacy this yr.

Macron was the primary European chief to go to Trump within the White Home in February, but it surely was Sir Keir who stole the present days later, handing him a private invitation from the King.

Then, when Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky returned to Europe contemporary from a bruising assembly with Trump on the White Home in February, it was King Charles who welcomed him to Sandringham, after which met him once more at Windsor in June.

He has spoken prior to now of the heroism of Ukrainians within the face of "indescribable aggression".

Even earlier than ascending the throne, King Charles amassed many years of expertise in worldwide affairs (he's additionally fluent in French). He was solely 21 when he attended the funeral in 1970 of Charles de Gaulle, the wartime basic who turned the architect of France's present Fifth Republic.

He went on to develop into the longest-serving Prince of Wales in historical past, and now he's King he has weekly audiences with the prime minister. "The choreography is an odd dance, I think, between Quantity Ten and the Palace," says royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams.

"There is not any doubt in any respect that Charles is significantly greater than a figurehead."

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/820b/live/e5813ac0-5b23-11f0-960d-e9f1088a89fe.png.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/820b/live/e5813ac0-5b23-11f0-960d-e9f1088a89fe.png.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/820b/live/e5813ac0-5b23-11f0-960d-e9f1088a89fe.png.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/820b/live/e5813ac0-5b23-11f0-960d-e9f1088a89fe.png.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/820b/live/e5813ac0-5b23-11f0-960d-e9f1088a89fe.png.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/820b/live/e5813ac0-5b23-11f0-960d-e9f1088a89fe.png.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/820b/live/e5813ac0-5b23-11f0-960d-e9f1088a89fe.png.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/820b/live/e5813ac0-5b23-11f0-960d-e9f1088a89fe.png.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Getty Images The Shah of Iran, Prince Charles and Prince Harald of Norway attend Mass for General de Gaulle at Notre Dame, on 13 November 1970 in Paris, France." class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Getty Photos King Charles at 21, attending the Mass for Charles de Gaulle in Paris

Windsor Fort, which dates again to the primary Norman king, William the Conqueror, has hosted French presidents earlier than. However there's a quiet significance within the look of the Prince and Princess of Wales in welcoming Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron, as Catherine recovers from therapy for most cancers.

Between them, the King and Macron have performed their half in resetting relations between the 2 neighbours, and by extension with the European Union too.

The King is a francophile, says Marc Roche, a columnist and royal commentator for French media: "He has at all times had a superb relationship with France."

A yr after the dying of Queen Elizabeth II, it was France that King Charles and Queen Camilla selected for his or her first state go to in September 2023.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/077e/live/1ed80830-5b24-11f0-b5c5-012c5796682d.png.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/077e/live/1ed80830-5b24-11f0-b5c5-012c5796682d.png.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/077e/live/1ed80830-5b24-11f0-b5c5-012c5796682d.png.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/077e/live/1ed80830-5b24-11f0-b5c5-012c5796682d.png.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/077e/live/1ed80830-5b24-11f0-b5c5-012c5796682d.png.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/077e/live/1ed80830-5b24-11f0-b5c5-012c5796682d.png.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/077e/live/1ed80830-5b24-11f0-b5c5-012c5796682d.png.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/077e/live/1ed80830-5b24-11f0-b5c5-012c5796682d.png.webp" loading="lazy" alt="AFP via Getty Images Queen Camilla plays table tennis, next to King Charles III and Brigitte Macron, during a visit to the Saint-Denis, a northern suburb of Paris, on 21 September 2023." class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> AFP by way of Getty Photos Queen Camilla performed desk tennis at a sports activities centre in Paris with Brigitte Macron

Macron had reminded the world in 2022 that the late Queen had "climbed the steps of the Élysée Palace" six occasions — greater than another overseas sovereign. His phrases had been warmly obtained within the UK.

The King obtained a standing ovation after an deal with in French to the Senate, and the Queen performed desk tennis at a sports activities centre with Brigitte Macron. France's first girl has since visited her in London for a cross-Channel ebook award.

Mild touches they might have been, but it surely adopted a really tough interval in Franco-British relations.

Brexit negotiations soured relations

The temper had soured throughout negotiations over Brexit, which the French president stated was primarily based on a lie.

Then 4 years in the past, Australia pulled out of a deal to purchase 12 French submarines and signed a defence pact with the UK and US as an alternative. The French overseas minister known as it a "stab within the again".

Boris Johnson, who was prime minister on the time, instructed the French they need to "prenez un grip" and "donnez-moi un break" .

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/d8f2/live/8dd7f9d0-5b23-11f0-a40e-a1af2950b220.png.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/d8f2/live/8dd7f9d0-5b23-11f0-a40e-a1af2950b220.png.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/d8f2/live/8dd7f9d0-5b23-11f0-a40e-a1af2950b220.png.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/d8f2/live/8dd7f9d0-5b23-11f0-a40e-a1af2950b220.png.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/d8f2/live/8dd7f9d0-5b23-11f0-a40e-a1af2950b220.png.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/d8f2/live/8dd7f9d0-5b23-11f0-a40e-a1af2950b220.png.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/d8f2/live/8dd7f9d0-5b23-11f0-a40e-a1af2950b220.png.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/d8f2/live/8dd7f9d0-5b23-11f0-a40e-a1af2950b220.png.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Getty Images Boris Johnson and Emmanuel Macron point at each other on 18 June 2020 in London, England." class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Getty Photos French-British relations soured throughout negotiations over Brexit, which Macron (pictured with Johnson in 2020) stated was primarily based on a lie

It had been Macron's concept for a European Political Neighborhood (EPC) in 2022 that introduced the UK right into a broad group of nations all searching for to answer Russia's full-scale invasion.

In 2023 the then-Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, sought to show the web page on a number of years of frosty relations at a Franco-British summit in Paris.

British and French prime ministers have come and gone: the UK had three in 2022, and final yr France had 4. It was Sunak's group that organised final yr's EPC summit at Blenheim, but it surely was Starmer as new prime minister who chaired it.

Sébastien Maillard, who helped advise the French presidency in organising the EPC, stated he believed "on either side there's nonetheless an absence of belief… The reminiscence of those tough occasions has not vanished".

"Belief wants time to construct and maybe the Russian risk, assist for Ukraine and easy methods to deal with Trump are three compelling causes to rebuild that belief," says Maillard, who's now on the Chatham Home suppose tank.

Susi Dennison, of the European Council on International Relations in Paris, agrees relations with France are usually not again to pre-Brexit ranges, however suggests some issues the UK and France are "bickering" about had been being argued over even earlier than the Brexit vote.

For Macron, this can be a probability to not solely enhance the connection but additionally to shine on the worldwide stage when his reputation at dwelling has sunk, Mr Roche believes. "It is a vital go to, particularly the primary day, as a result of the French are fascinated by the Royal Household."

After eight years in energy, Macron's second time period nonetheless has virtually two years to run, however he has paid the worth politically for calling snap elections final yr and shedding his authorities's majority. His prime minister, François Bayrou, faces a monumental process within the coming months in steering subsequent yr's finances previous France's left-wing and far-right events.

As president, Macron's powers - his domaine réservé - cowl overseas coverage, defence and safety, however historically France's prime minister doesn't journey with the top of state, so Macron involves the UK with a group of ministers who will deal with way over worldwide affairs.

The tough query of migration

In the course of the summit, the 2 groups will even work on nuclear vitality, synthetic intelligence and cultural ties. Variations nonetheless must be sorted over "post-Brexit mobility" for college kids and different younger individuals, and France is anticipated to push the Starmer authorities on that.

However many of the headlines on Thursday's UK-France summit will cowl the 2 fundamental points: defence and migration.

Defending Ukraine will take pleasure of place. An Élysée Palace supply stated it could talk about "easy methods to significantly preserve Ukraine's fight functionality" and regenerate its army.

"On defence our relationship is nearer than another nations," says former ambassador Sylvie Bermann. "We've to arrange for the longer term… to strengthen the deterrence of Europe."

And if a ceasefire had been agreed in Ukraine, the 2 nations may present the spine of the "reassurance pressure" being proposed by the "coalition of the prepared". Sir Keir and Macron have performed a distinguished half in forming this coalition, however so too have the army chiefs of employees of each nations.

Migration is the stickiest drawback the 2 nations face, nonetheless. How they take care of their variations on it — notably on small boats — is essential to their future relationship.

They're particularly eager to signal an settlement on migrant returns and on French police stopping individuals boarding "taxi boats" to cross the Channel.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/d787/live/16c270f0-5b23-11f0-960d-e9f1088a89fe.png.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/d787/live/16c270f0-5b23-11f0-960d-e9f1088a89fe.png.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/d787/live/16c270f0-5b23-11f0-960d-e9f1088a89fe.png.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/d787/live/16c270f0-5b23-11f0-960d-e9f1088a89fe.png.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/d787/live/16c270f0-5b23-11f0-960d-e9f1088a89fe.png.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/d787/live/16c270f0-5b23-11f0-960d-e9f1088a89fe.png.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/d787/live/16c270f0-5b23-11f0-960d-e9f1088a89fe.png.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/d787/live/16c270f0-5b23-11f0-960d-e9f1088a89fe.png.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Getty Images French Police enter the water to try and stop migrants boarding small boats that had come to collect them from further down the coastline on 13 June 2025 in Gravelines, France." class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Getty Photos Each nations wish to signal an settlement on migrant returns. Greater than 20,000 individuals have arrived within the UK in small boats within the first six months of 2025

France has lengthy argued that the UK has to deal with the "pull components" that drive individuals to wish to danger their lives on the boats — the UK, for its half, already pays for most of the 1,200 French gendarmes to patrol France's lengthy northern shoreline to cease the smugglers' boats.

The nations are believed to have been engaged on the phrases of a "one-in, one-out" settlement, in order that for each small-boat arrival within the UK that France takes again, the UK would permit in a single asylum seeker from France searching for household reunification.

A number of nations on the southern coasts of Europe are unimpressed as a result of it may imply France sending these asylum seekers handed again by the UK on to their nation of entry into the EU, bordering the Mediterranean.

Within the UK, the opposition Conservatives have branded the concept "pathetic", accusing the federal government of a "nationwide file - for failure" on curbing small-boat crossings.

And but each nation in Europe is on the lookout for a method to lower unlawful border crossings. Meghan Benton, of the Migration Coverage Institute, believes a Franco-British deal may work as a doable pilot for the remainder of Europe: "What works for the Channel may additionally work for the Mediterranean."

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/160f/live/befff420-5b4d-11f0-960d-e9f1088a89fe.png.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/160f/live/befff420-5b4d-11f0-960d-e9f1088a89fe.png.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/160f/live/befff420-5b4d-11f0-960d-e9f1088a89fe.png.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/160f/live/befff420-5b4d-11f0-960d-e9f1088a89fe.png.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/160f/live/befff420-5b4d-11f0-960d-e9f1088a89fe.png.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/160f/live/befff420-5b4d-11f0-960d-e9f1088a89fe.png.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/160f/live/befff420-5b4d-11f0-960d-e9f1088a89fe.png.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/160f/live/befff420-5b4d-11f0-960d-e9f1088a89fe.png.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Getty Images Macron and King Charles toast glasses, while looking happy and wearing black tie outfits" class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Getty Photos King Charles beforehand known as on France and the UK to seek out frequent floor "to reinvigorate our friendship"

Any settlement on this difficult situation may additionally sign an actual, sensible enchancment within the nations' political relationship. France's right-wing Inside Minister, Bruno Retailleau, has already been working with Labour's Dwelling Secretary Yvette Cooper to attempt to discover a workable answer.

How far they get, and its wider impression on Europe, remains to be to be determined, but it surely does mirror a brand new willingness between the 2 neighbours to deal with the divisions between them.

Boris Johnson as soon as accused France of eager to punish the UK for Brexit. That tough chapter seems to be over.

As Susi Dennison places it: "There is a sure distance that can at all times be there, however issues are working fairly nicely."

Throughout King Charles' 2023 state go to to France he known as on the 2 nations to seek out frequent floor, "to reinvigorate our friendship to make sure it's match for the problem of this, the twenty first Century".

And so this go to will assist present — each within the relationships between people and on concrete coverage debates — whether or not his name has been answered.

BBC InDepth is the house on the web site and app for the most effective evaluation, with contemporary views that problem assumptions and deep reporting on the most important problems with the day. And we showcase thought-provoking content material from throughout BBC Sounds and iPlayer too. You may ship us your suggestions on the InDepth part by clicking on the button under.