Macron emphasizes European defense cooperation during historic UK visit

In a historic state visit earlier this year, Emmanuel Macron, the French president, became the first European leader to address both Houses of Parliament in the UK since Brexit was finalized in 2020. This address marked a pivotal moment as Macron sought to reset relations between the UK and France while recognizing the past events surrounding Brexit as behind them. He highlighted shared challenges, including the economy, climate change, and the ongoing immigration crisis, underscoring the necessity for both nations to prioritize their defense responsibilities amidst rising threats from outside powers, particularly Russia. Macron expressed concern over the increasing military budgets of European NATO members and the withdrawal of US support under previous leadership. He called for the UK and France, as Europe’s primary nuclear powers and leading militaries, to take the lead in establishing a robust defense framework for the continent. His remarks emphasized the urgency of countering the influence of aggressive nations, particularly focusing on the conflict in Ukraine and its implications for European security. He also mentioned that the two nations share a