Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to the United States will culminate this Thursday with the dinner organized at the White House. A solemn meeting with Joe Biden which promises to be decisive.
“You may solve your problem, but you will make mine worse.” Will Emmanuel Macron be as direct this Thursday with Joe Biden, on the occasion of the dinner organized at the White House for the visit of the French president to American soil? On Wednesday, the head of state did not mince his words with regard to the economic protectionism plan voted in the United States, in front of an audience of American parliamentarians. The question of this “Inflation Reduction Act” (IRA – Inflation Reduction Plan) is the thorny issue on which the two world leaders must discuss, during a sumptuous meal served at the heart of the American presidential power, which will take also share their respective companions. A particularly strong diplomatic moment but which promises to be under tension.
While the ritual of the dinner served on the occasion of a State visit is subject to very specific codes, in particular the exchange of gifts with strong symbols, likely to create a friendly atmosphere around the table, it does not nevertheless, the discussion should leave little room for jokes. In the midst of lobster, caviar, or even parsley beef that the guests will taste, Emmanuel Macron should not fail to repeat to his counterpart his concern about the consequences of the IRA on European industries, Biden opening the financial floodgates of his countries to distribute aid to households buying 100% US in certain sectors. Something to tense Macron and Europe with a drop in activity in these areas on the Old Continent.
Between a glass of Californian Chardonnay and Californian Cabernet Sauvignon, the French president will try to negotiate exceptions for products made in Europe, making himself, through this visit, the spokesperson for several nations. If this question will already be addressed during a one-on-one interview with Joe Biden a few hours earlier, Emmanuel Macron will try to drive home the point, especially since many personalities from the economic world will accompany the French president to that time: Bernard Arnault (LVMH), Xavier Niel (Iliad), Patrick Pouyanné (Total Energies), Luc Rémont (EDF), Guillaume d’Hauteville (Deezer), among others, received their invitation card.