The official visit of President Macron and his wife to the Netherlands began this morning with a series of gun salutes at the IJ in Amsterdam. For the first time in 23 years, a French President paid an official visit.
Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron began the official program in Dam Square, where they were welcomed by King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima. After the Dutch and French national anthems were played at the Royal Palace and the guard of honor was inspected, a reception was held at the Royal Palace in Dam Square. Prime Minister Rutte and other cabinet members are also present at the reception.
After the welcome, the President and the King jointly inspected the guard of honor:
After a special lunch with the royal couple, Macron laid a wreath at the memorial in Dam Square for the martyrs. The President will then travel to The Hague, where he will meet with the Speakers of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Taiwan
Macron will also give a speech in The Hague about his vision for the future of Europe. It is also followed with great interest abroad. After the President’s visit to China last week, the statements he made about Taiwan in the French media had aroused international repercussions in recent days.
He loudly questioned whether it was in the “Europeans’ interest” to accelerate the Taiwan crisis, answering “no” himself, and warning of a “trap” that could plunge the EU into “crises that are not our business”. get sucked in
Tonight, the President returns to Amsterdam for a state banquet where Macron and Willem-Alexander will speak at the Palace on Dam Square.
Tomorrow Macron and his wife, together with Prime Minister Rutte, will visit the Johannes Vermeer exhibition at the Rijksmuseum. They will also visit the University of Amsterdam and hold talks between the Dutch and French cabinets.
Source: NOS
Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
