1/10 Macron's trip to Washington (the first state visit under Trump) is another sign of a strikingly good relation between the two leaders, that comes on top of close bilateral relations between France and the US.
2/10 That good relation is all the more striking given the number of disagreements on foreign policy issues, with #Iran certainly topping the list at the moment.
3/10 On Syria, the disagreement is more limited, as shown by the joint strikes launched (with the UK) on April 14. But Trump's determination to withdraw US troops and its focus on Iran (again) are two significant divergences.
4/10 Since Trump and Macron's election, the number of issues where the two countries differ has grown: trade, the Middle East peace process and Jerusalem, the Paris agreement on climate, etc.
5/10 A key challenge for Macron, as for other European leaders (May & Merkel included) is precisely how to avoid to be left only with a negative agenda. For France, the fight against terrorism is a positive point, but unlikely a sufficient one.
6/10 Another challenge, specifically on the Iran deal, is how to prevent Trump from moving the goalpost continuously, which is one of the reasons why you've heard European voices and now Macron himself insisting there's no plan B.
7/10 In this context, the visit will help see how much Macron can leverage his personal relation with Trump. So far, the record isn't very supportive of this strategy – not just for Macron, to be fair.
8/10 That's why Macron will also try to play some European solidarity, especially on Iran where the E3 already plays a big role. Hence prior coordination with Angela Merkel (who will be in Washington shortly after Macron).
9/10 And that's also why Macron will seize the opportunity to raise Iran also when speaking at the US Congress, always an important player on such foreign policy issues (as noted by my colleague @jyshapiro in French here).
10/10 Quite high stakes for this visit, as one can see. Even more so when one thinks that the outcome from this trip to Washington will frame Macron's upcoming visit to Putin in Saint-Petersburg in one month from now (May 24-25).
