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Macron’s State Visit: What a Renewed UK–France Alliance Means for the World

  • Writer: Luke Thompson
    Luke Thompson
  • Jul 8
  • 2 min read

Updated: Aug 1

The image shows King Charles III and French President Emmanuel Macron in suits, appearing to be in conversation or greeting each other. King Charles, on the left, with white hair, is seen from the back, showing the right side of his face in profile. Macron, on the right, with brown hair, is facing him, looking down and smiling. Both men are wearing dark blue suits. In the background, out of focus, Queen Camilla is wearing a green hat and a light-colored outfit is partially visible, kissing the cheek of Bridgette Macron in greeting, along with hints of other individuals and what might be a ceremonial guard with a bearskin hat. The setting appears to be outdoors and formal, for the Macron's three-day state visit.
The King and Queen welcome Emmanuel Macron and his wife Bridgette for their three-day state visit. Photo: The Independent

French President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to the United Kingdom will go far more than its ceremonial value. In his first visit since, it signals a significant step in repairing and redefining one of Europe’s oldest and most influential diplomatic relationships. 


Anglo-French ties have been strained since Brexit. Disputes over migration, trade and security clouded a once-close alliance. Macron’s visit, rich in symbolism and timing, signals a willingness to reset. 


The renewal of the entente cordiale (Anglo-French diplomatic understanding) comes at a critical moment. War corrupts Europe’s Eastern edge, while global tensions in Asia and the Middle East escalate. In this context, a strengthened partnership across the Channel could help steady the wider international order. 


In the image, French President Emmanuel Macron is seen bending down to kiss the hand of Catherine, Princess of Wales, who is wearing a peach-colored hat and suit. To the right, Brigitte Macron, in a white dress, and another woman in a cream-colored jacket and dark hat, are looking on. On the far left, a man in a military uniform is visible, and behind Macron, a man in a dark suit can be seen. The scene appears to be taking place outdoors, possibly near an aircraft, under bright sunlight.
Macron greets the Princess of Wales on arrival at Windsor Castle with his wife Bridgette. Photo: Reuters

The two nations are not just neighbours; they are global players. Both possess nuclear weapons, permanent UN Security Council seats and influence in NATO and beyond. When they work together, their reach extends far beyond Europe. 


A renewed alliance could mean tighter coordination on defense, cybersecurity and energy. It may also unlock joint responses to crises like Ukraine, where their combined voice carries both military and diplomatic weight. 


But the partnership also comes with risks.


Critics in the Global South may perceive this renewed cooperation as yet another example of Western powers neglecting crises elsewhere - Gaza, Sudan and the Horn of Africa among them. 


There’s also the danger of nostalgia - if the UK and France revive their relationship based solely on shared history and European priorities, they risk overlooking the realities of a multipolar world. 


Still, this visit matters. Not just because Macron is the first French president in over a decade to make a state visit to Britain, but because the challenges we face require old alliances to take on new meaning. 


For this revamped entente to matter globally, it must be more than a handshake between elites. It must be a commitment to act with principle, not just power. 


The world is watching - and so are the echoes of history. 


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