Starmer Attends Armistice Day in Paris With Macron

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Facts

  • UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer attended Armistice Day with French Pres. Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Monday, the first UK leader to do so since former Prime Minister Winston Churchill joined General Charles de Gaulle in 1944.[1][2]
  • The Prime Minister's Office stated that his attendance in Paris for the 106th anniversary of the Armistice came following a "personal invitation" from Macron, and noted the 120th anniversary of the Entente Cordiale, and the 80th anniversary of the beginning of the liberation of Nazi-occupied France.[3]
  • The two laid wreaths beneath statues of Churchill and former French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau, before laying a wreath and relighting the flame of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Arc de Triomphe.[4]
  • Downing Street has also stated that the two leaders took part in a meeting in Paris, where they discussed "how best to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position" entering winter, as well as their "deep concern" concerning Gaza and Lebanon.[5][6]
  • The UK's French Embassy has also claimed Starmer and Macron discussed the "desire to deepen bilateral relations," citing a summit to be held in the UK next year, as well as further "cooperation" concerning English Channel migration, artificial intelligence, and the environment.[7]
  • While visiting France, Starmer also met former EU Brexit negotiator and French Prime Minister Michel Barnier, who was appointed by Macron in September.[8][9]

Sources: [1]BBC News, [2]France 24, [3]GOV.UK, [4]Sky News, [5]Daily Mail, [6]The Guardian, [7]UK.ambafrance, [8]Verity and [9]X.

Narratives

  • Left narrative, as provided by RFI and Independent. Starmer's attendance in Paris at the personal invitation of Macron is a sign that relations between the UK and its European partners are finally beginning to heal post-Brexit. Given Germany's ongoing governmental collapse and uncertainty surrounding the decisions Pres.-elect Donald Trump may take in his second term, it's more important than ever that the likes of France and the UK come together in a sign of strength.
  • Right narrative, as provided by The Spectator (UK) and The Telegraph. While Macron and Starmer's Armistice Day meeting may serve as a successful media stunt, it's unlikely to ensure meaningful change beyond superficial pleasantries. Migrants continue to illegally enter both the UK and France at record rates, while Europe remains unprepared to effectively defend itself if Trump decides to pull US support for NATO and Ukraine. Handshakes and photos are not enough to solve the growing list of crises.
  • Pro-Russia narrative, as provided by RT and Sputnik International. The true purpose of Starmer and Macron's meeting is clear — to push America to green-light the use of Western weapons in Russian sovereign territory. Despite repeated warnings by Moscow that any such action would be viewed as a major conflict escalation, it seems as if the UK, France, and its European partners are adamant about continuing their forever wars for personal gain.