Sir Keir Starmer marked Armistice Day in Paris with Emmanuel Macron and the two leaders held talks on how Britain and France ramp up Europe’s defence during a second Donald Trump term.
The Prime Minister and French president laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Arc de Triomphe in the French capital to commemorate the end of the First World War.
In the UK, Armistice Day events focused on the Cenotaph in London and the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire where the Duchess of Edinburgh was among the guests for the Service of Remembrance.
The Prime Minister was attending the ceremony in the French capital to mark the 106th anniversary of the Armistice of 1918.
But the leaders’ focus was also sharply on present day threats facing Europe, most notably Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine amid fears that Trump will scale back US support for Kyiv, and possibly even for Nato.
In a bilateral meeting ahead of the Armistice commemorations, the Prime Minister and French president held talks on foreign policy issues including Ukraine and the Gaza conflict.
Afterwards, No10 said: “The leaders started by discussing the situation in Ukraine, including how best to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position going into the winter.
“Turning to the Middle East, both underscored their deep concern at the situation in Gaza and Lebanon. They also reiterated the need for stability in the West Bank.
“Reflecting on the situation in the Channel, the Prime Minister set out his mission to disrupt and deter smuggling gangs across Europe, and the leaders strongly agreed on the importance of bearing down on illegal migration at every stage of a migrant's journey.”
Très heureux de vous retrouver, @Keir_Starmer, à Paris ce matin.
— Michel Barnier (@MichelBarnier) November 11, 2024
L’amitié franco-britannique vient de loin, a connu les épreuves. Elle sera précieuse pour affronter les défis qui sont devant nous.
Merci, Monsieur le Premier ministre, @10DowningStreet, d’être avec le peuple… pic.twitter.com/yawGFmm0FR
Sir Keir also met the new French Prime Minister Michel Barnier, who was the key negotiator for Brussels during the Brexit talks.
Mr Barnier tweeted: “Very happy to see you again, @Keir_Starmer , in Paris this morning.
“Franco-British friendship has a long history and has known trials. It will be invaluable in facing the challenges that lie ahead.”
Amid the growing global threats, Mr Macron warned at a European summit in Budapest, Hungary, on Thursday: “We must not delegate forever our security to America.”
The French president stressed: “The world is made up of herbivores and carnivores. If we decide to remain herbivores, then the carnivores will win and we will be a market for them.”
Germany, Italy, Poland and other major European countries will all have a role to play in beefing up Europe’s defence.
But as Europe’s only two nuclear powers and with the continent’s strongest armies, the burden will almost inevitably fall most heavily on Britain and France to fill any defence gap left by America pulling away from its current stance on European security to focus more on the threat from China.
The British and French militaries have been co-operating increasingly closely, so their forces can take part in joint operations, alongside other allies.
In a sign of the new focus on the Entente Cordiale alliance, No10 stressed Sir Keir had been personally invited by Mr Macron to the ceremony in Paris, and that he would be the first UK leader to attend it since Winston Churchill in 1944.
Sir Keir said: “I am honoured to be in Paris to stand united with President Macron in tribute to the fallen of the First World War who made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedom we enjoy today.
“These events are vital in ensuring the memory of millions of young soldiers, sailors, and aviators live on for generations to come.”
The Prime Minister also announced more than £10 million for events next year to mark the 80th anniversaries of the Allied Victory in Europe and the end of the Second World War in the Far East, on May 8 and August 15 respectively.
