US President Joe Biden arrived in Paris this Wednesday to participate in the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the ‘D-Day’ invasion of France, while trying to demonstrate his support for European security.
The trip comes at a time when some allies fear that Donald Trump cancel American commitments if it wins the upcoming presidential elections in November, while they continue in Ukraine the deadliest battles on the continent since Second World Warand Western partners are looking for ways to turn the tide against Russiawhat has recently gained ground on the battlefield. The visit also coincides with disagreements ever deeper between USA and more European allies on how to manage war in Gaza.
Biden came to Paris this Wednesday morning and was received by French authorities and an honor guard. On Thursday he will visit a sacred place near the beaches of Normandy, where rows of headstones mark the graves of American soldiers who died to end World War II. He will also speak Friday at Pointe du Hoc, a place on the French coast where Army Rangers scaled coastal cliffs to overcome Nazi defenses.
White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said aboard Air Force One en route to France that Biden will emphasize how the men on those cliffs “put the country before themselves” and detail “the dangers of isolationism and how, if we back dictators and don’t stand up to them, they will continue and ultimately America and the world will pay a greater price.”
“80 years later, we see dictators once again trying to challenge the order, trying to march in Europe” Sullivan said, “and freedom-loving nations must unite to oppose that, as we have done.”
Meeting with Zelensky and subsequent visit to the Elysee
He also said that Biden would meet with the Ukrainian president, Volodímir Zelenskiin France to discuss “how we can continue and deepen our support for Ukraine.”
On Saturday, Biden, along with his wife Jill, will be honored by the French president, Emmanuel Macronwith a state visit which will include a military parade in Paris and a banquet at the Elysee Palace, as well as business sessions in which the leaders will meet to discuss strengthening their alliance, trade issues and security cooperation for the Upcoming Olympic Games.
The two leaders are also expected to talk about middle East. Biden has invested geopolitical capital in the intermediation to try to achieve a Stop the fire between Israel and Hamas that would allow the release of hostages, although it has maintained its strong support for the Hebrew country and has resisted European efforts to recognize a Palestinian state or investigate Israel for its handling of the war, which has caused the death of more than 36,000 Palestinians and caused a humanitarian catastrophe.
