French President urges support for Gaza, Ukraine during UK visit

French President Emmanuel Macron is on a state visit to Britain to seek British support for recognizing a Palestinian state and providing aid to Ukraine. He is the first European leader to visit Britain since Brexit. In a rare speech to both houses of the British Parliament on Tuesday (July 8) local time, Macron welcomed the restoration of close ties between France and Britain. He said the two countries must work together to reduce their “over-dependence” on the United States and China. The French president’s three-day visit is at the invitation of King Charles III. Macron was welcomed by members of the royal family, including heir to the throne Prince William and his wife Princess Catherine. They then traveled by horse-drawn carriage to Windsor Castle. Speaking to parliament, Macron said France and Britain must work together to strengthen Europe — in areas including defense, immigration, climate and trade. The French president also said, “Britain and France must once again show the world that our alliance can make a big difference. The only way to face the challenges of our time is to move forward shoulder to shoulder.” Macron reiterated the European countries’ commitment to support Ukraine, saying they would “never abandon Ukraine,” while also demanding an unconditional ceasefire in Gaza. He called on Britain to cooperate with France on recognizing the state of Palestine, saying it was “the only way to bring peace.” He highlighted the geopolitical threats facing France and Britain and advised against “over-reliance” on the United States and China. “We must de-risk our economies and societies from this dual dependence,” he said. The French president also said it was necessary to make it easier for students, researchers and artists to live in each other’s countries and to increase cooperation on issues such as artificial intelligence (AI) and child protection online.