Washington DC, 1 December 2022 (TDI): President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, arrived in the United States (US) for his second state visit.
This trip marks the first state visit by a foreign Head of State under President Joe Biden’s administration. It is Macron’s second visit to the US, his first visit was during the tenure of former US President Donald Trump.
Read more: US State Department welcomes Foreign Minister of France
He was received at the airport by the US Chief of Protocol, Rufus Gifford, along with US Deputy Secretary of State, Wendy Sherman. The Ambassador of France to the United States, Philippe Etienne, was also present.
The US President, Joe Biden, will host his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, at the White House with expected talks on transatlantic trade and how to manage a rising China.
Ahead of the formal talks, both dignitaries, joined by their wives, took an early opportunity to get together. They rode in the US presidential motorcade to the historic area of Georgetown and dined at Fiola Mare, an Italian restaurant.
Macron’s visit to NASA Headquarters
As he began his official visit to the US, Emmanuel Macron visited America’s space agency NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) headquarters along with US Vice President Kamala Harris.
This visit offered the two countries a chance to demonstrate their cooperation on space technology. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson welcomed both officials.
They participated in a working meeting and briefing by experts on the US and France’s cooperation in exploration, and space science.
During the meeting, Harris declared France a “vital ally” of the US while underlining the importance of their space cooperation. They also received a first look at new imagery and video from the Artemis I mission.
It is pertinent to note that in June, France signed the Artemis Accords which aims to support NASA’s goal of returning humans to the moon by 2024.
Similarly, the US joined a French initiative to develop tools for adapting to climate change called the Space for Climate Observatory.