Paris, Nov 11 (EFE).- French president Emmanuel Macron and the United Kingdom’s prime minister Keir Starmer on Monday said they hoped to strengthen their countries’ bilateral relationship, particularly in security and defense.
The two leaders met at the Elysee Palace, ahead of commemorations for the 106th anniversary of the end of World War I.
Their discussion on security and defense issues comes in the wake of Donald Trump’s victory last week in the US election.
During his first stint in the White House between 2017 and 2021, Trump frequently accused the US’ European allies of underspending on defense and of overly relying on Washington’s military power.
A statement by the Elysee Palace said Macron had highlighted the need to “assert the interests and responsibilities of Europeans” in defense and security.
Macron had also addressed the issue at the European Political Cooperation summit in Budapest last week, where he warned that if Europe decides to continue to be “herbivorous”, the result will be that “the carnivores will win” on the global geopolitical stage.
In that vein, the French president and the British prime minister Monday discussed improving cooperation between the UK and the European Union.
The two leaders reiterated “their determination to support Ukraine unwaveringly and for as long as it takes to derail Russia’s war of aggression,” the Elysee statement added.
Macron and Starmer also agreed to step up bilateral cooperation to try to stem the flow of irregular migrants across the English Channel to British shores. A record 60 people have died attempting the crossing so far this year.
After the meeting at the Elysée, the two leaders held a ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. There, after listening to the two national anthems, they reviewed the troops formed in the Place de l’Etoile, where the monument stands.
They then laid a wreath at the tomb of an unknown French soldier who died in that conflict, which is located just under the arch. EFE
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