French President Emmanuel Macron will receive the head of state award during his official visit to Washington today, nine months after US President Donald Trump paid a visit to Paris.
The three-day official visit is considered likely to reveal more moments of the personal working relationship that has developed between the two men, comments "Politico."
The two presidents often talk on the phone, while co-ordinating recent rocket attacks on targets in Syria. For his part, the French president has refrained from publicly criticizing Trump and calling him a "friend" of France, while Trump took the same stance during his visit to Paris last July.
This week's visit "will focus on this friendship," said a senior US government official.
Few could have predicted in 2017 this positive development in the working relationship between the two presidents, after the defeat of Marin Le Pen, for which the American president had hinted that he supported it politically. Macron's election victory, on the other hand, was seen as a major defeat for the nationalist movement in the West, and President Trump had become a central figure in the movement. The French, for their part, adored the intelligence of US President Barack Obama, while viewing President Trump as a spiritually uncivilized American.
Contrary to the example of most French politicians who have politically disapproved of Trump, Macron followed a different tactic in trying to gain his sympathy through flattering comments. In an interview with Fox News Sunday, President Macron emphasized his similarities with the US president, stressing that both he and Trump could be described as "lonely" as their election victory was unexpected.
The two presidents are expected to discuss the international agreement on Iran's nuclear program, the situation in Syria, as well as trade issues, including issues sensitive to international developments.
Both Macron and Trump have worked closely together as Paris takes a greater lead in international affairs as Britain deals with Brexit, while politically weak German Chancellor Merkel has a - at best - cold relationship with President Trump. "Macron has become the key European interlocutor for Trump on dealing with international crises," Alexandra de Hoop Scheffer of the German Marshall Fund wrote in a recent paper.
The two presidents will have a private dinner this afternoon, and will have a bilateral meeting early tomorrow. Afterwards, a meeting will be held between the members of the two governments, before a formal dinner at the White House. On Wednesday, President Macron will address a joint meeting of the two congressional legislatures.
In their private discussions, the two presidents are expected to focus on security issues. Among them is the international agreement on Iran's nuclear program. French officials say they share some of Trump's concerns about the deal signed in July 2015 with the key role of former US President Barack Obama. However, France insists that President Trump should not abandon the implementation of the agreement in mid-May, as the US president has threatened to impose new sanctions on Tehran.
Macron has sought common ground with Trump by saying that the deal has gaps and implying that he would be interested in taking serious action against Iran's ballistic missile program. For his part, Trump is seeking more drastic measures than those proposed by the French, with Paris worried that their implementation could lead to the total abolition of the agreement.
A White House official said the deal "would be a major issue in the talks" during Macron's visit. According to the same official, the two presidents "will probably discuss in detail the course of developments in Syria."
During a televised debate last week, Macron also noted the US military presence in Syria: "President Trump has stated that it is the will of the United States to oust them from Syria. We convinced him that they needed to stay. "
For his part, the White House immediately refuted the characterization used by Macron and later stated that he never meant that countries should maintain a permanent presence in the country.
President Macron told Fox News yesterday that he would support the need for international cooperation during his speech to Congress, while warning that Iran would benefit from a possible US and European withdrawal from Syria. "We serve the same values with an emphasis on freedom and peace," Macron said, referring to the United States and France.
Trade will also be on the agenda, with Chancellor Merkel expected to arrive in Washington on April 27. At the heart of the economic and trade interest of both European leaders is the recent imposition of steel tariffs, which has provoked a backlash from Europe at all levels.
Both French and American officials are trying to lower expectations of special results from the consultations between the two presidents. "Most of them are symbolic," said a spokesman for the French president.
"I think President Trump would like to hear from President Macron that he shares his views." However, it is difficult to predict whether a full agreement will be reached despite the moves being made on certain issues, a Trump administration official said.
At the domestic political level, one year after his election to the presidency of France, Macron is becoming a staunch supporter of European liberalism, provoking the wrath of the trade unions and the decline of his popularity. France will be shaken by the railway strikes until June. Macron seeks US support as a leading military force with representation on the UN Security Council, nuclear arsenal, but also the will to intervene where others are unable.
President Trump is facing a major political crisis in Congress, but also in the West Wing of the White House, while the climate of political mistrust between Republicans and Democrats is strengthening in Washington, in view of the midterm elections for the Congress, which will be held in the beginning of November. He himself seeks in the person of President Macron to find a credible European interlocutor, with the highest degree of understanding.
The missile strikes against Syria (April 14th) have strengthened the framework of relations between France and the United States, according to French officials. The two presidents spoke several times during the crisis, not less than seven times last month, according to a source in France's presidential palace.