We told you about the bromance between Emmanuel Macron and Volodymyr Zelensky when the Ukrainian president visited in mid-February. Of a space bromance during a visit to the United States. With President Lula, we are now talking about “marriage” after the photos posted of heads of state. Even the French president uses this term on his account in a long post. “Some have compared the images of my visit to Brazil to those of a wedding, I tell them: it was one! France loves Brazil and Brazil loves France! », ignites Emmanuel Macron.
A look back at the head of state’s romances and bromances with his foreign counterparts.
Emmanuel Macron and Lula are on a boat on March 26, 2024. None fell into the water. — Ricardo STUCKERT / Brazilian Presidency / AFP
Belem Bay, the sun, smiles and a handshake. Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to Brazil treated photographers to numerous scenes of friendship between the French head of state and his counterpart Lula.
Lula and Emmanuel Macron on the island of Combu, near Belem in the Brazilian state of Para. — Eraldo Peres/AP/SIPA
After the river, the forest for a little getaway between heads of state hand in hand.
On X, Emmanuel Macron showed humor and self-deprecation by publishing a meme where he appears with Brazilian President Lula. — screenshot of Emmanuel Macron’s X account
On social networks, the photo of Emmanuel Macron and Lula has become a meme. The movie poster La La Land was taken as a setting to magnify this bromance. The French president was amused by the term “marriage” used by some and used it in a long tweet where he declared: “France loves Brazil and Brazil loves France!” »
Emmanuel Macron presents the Legion of Honor to Raoni Metuktire, March 26, 2024. — Jacques Witt/SIPA
In Brazil, Emmanuel Macron also sympathized with the indigenous leader of the Kayapo Raoni people. He took the opportunity to award this figure in the defense of the Amazon forest the Legion of Honor.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Emmanuel Macron in the courtyard of the Elysée, February 16, 2024. — Ukrainian Presidency/SIPA
We mentioned it in the introduction to this slide: the Macron-Zelensky bromance, mid-February in Paris. In the courtyard of the Elysée, it started with a big hug.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Emmanuel Macron after their speeches at the Elysée, February 16, 2024. — Thibault Camus/AP/SIPA
It continued with a double handshake. In addition to their marks of affection, the two heads of state shared, that evening, an offensive speech against Vladimir Putin’s Russia.
Meeting between the Russian president and the French head of state, September 30, 2019 during the funeral of Jacques Chirac. — Alexei Druzhinin/TASS/Sipa USA/SIPA
With Vladimir Putin, Emmanuel Macron is more in a virilist attitude: gaze fixed in the eyes, hands ready to arm wrestle.
The famous handshake in Brussels between Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron, May 25, 2017. — Evan Vucci/AP/SIPA
This balance of power also existed between Emmanuel Macron and Donald Trump. The American president liked to impose his domination on foreign leaders with a handshake that was as physical as it was endless. There, it was Donald Trump who finally gave in, trying to put an end to the torture by opening his hand, but the new resident of the Elysée did not let go immediately.
Emmanuel Macron and Donald Trump, April 25, 2018. — Blondet Eliot-POOL/SIPA
A handshake from the front…
Emmanuel Macron and Donald Trump, April 25, 2018. — Blondet Eliot-POOL/SIPA
Emmanuel Macron’s Franco-American relations can be peaceful and smiling as here with Joe Biden during the G7 Summit in Hiroshima (Japan), May 20, 2023. — Stefan Rousseau/AP/SIPA
Emmanuel Macron and Joe Biden arm in arm with a smile during the G7 in Japan.
Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of New Zealand and Emmanuel Macron, May 15, 2019. — Raphael Lafargue-POOL/SIPA
With the New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, it’s more of a laugh.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hugs Emmanuel Macron. Brigitte Macron shakes hands with the wife of the President of India, Savita Kovind, under the eyes of Ram Nath Kovind, on March 10, 2018 in New Delhi. — Manish Swarup/AP/SIPA
Free hug between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Emmanuel Macron. Handshake between Brigitte Macron and the wife of the President of India, Savita Kovind.
Justin Trudeau and Emmanuel Macron during the G7 in Biarritz, August 26, 2019. — Jacques Witt/SIPA
Emmanuel Macron’s first bromance was with Justin Trudeau, the Canadian Prime Minister.
Emmanuel Macron and Justin Trudeau during the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, July 21, 2023. — Adrian Wyld/AP/SIPA
A friendship that continues four years later.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel welcomes the French president during a conference on Libya in Berlon, January 19, 2020. — Simone Kuhlmey/Pacific Press/Shutterstock/SIPA
Another great friendship, that of Emmanuel Macron with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Farewell visit by Angela Merkel to France, November 3, 2021. — JC Tardivon/SIPA
During her farewell visit to France, after sixteen years at the head of Germany, Angela Merkel was received by Emmanuel Macron in Côte-d’Or. The Head of State presented him with the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor and expressed his friendship during this embrace.