This year’s July 14 celebrations come a year after a Tunisian man loyal to Islamic State plowed a truck through a crowd of revelers on a seafront promenade in the Riviera city of Nice, killing more than 80 people.
A White House official on Tuesday said Trump and Macron would discuss the civil war in Syria, where Islamic State is defending its last major urban stronghold of Raqqa, and counter-terrorism.
For Macron, France’s youngest leader since Napoleon two centuries ago, the visit is a chance to use soft diplomacy to win Trump’s confidence and set about influencing U.S. foreign policy, which European leaders say lacks direction.
“I have no doubt that the presidents will talk about the state of military actions in Syria and they will talk about the future,” the Elysee official said.
“Macron has said before that military action is not enough, we have to plan for development and stabilization.”
Beyond Syria and the Middle East, the Elysee said Macron would also press Trump for more support in financing a new West African military force to battle Islamic militants in the Sahel, where France wants to wind down its troop presence.
In bringing Trump to Paris, Macron has stolen a march on Britain’s embattled Prime Minister Theresa May.
London’s offer of a state visit for Trump met fierce criticism and warnings that he would be greeted by mass protests.
An Elabe poll showed that 59 percent of French people approved of Macron’s decision to invite Trump.