French President Emmanuel Macron, right, and Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak shake hands during a joint news conference at the Elysee Palace in Paris. AP
French President Emmanuel Macron, right, and Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak shake hands during a joint news conference at the Elysee Palace in Paris. AP
French President Emmanuel Macron, right, and Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak shake hands during a joint news conference at the Elysee Palace in Paris. AP
French President Emmanuel Macron, right, and Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak shake hands during a joint news conference at the Elysee Palace in Paris. AP

Sunak and Macron 'reset' relations with new agreements on migration, energy and defence


Laura O'Callaghan
  • English
  • Arabic

Rishi Sunak and Emmanuel Macron hailed a “new beginning” in Anglo-French relations following talks in Paris as they struck deals on key areas affecting their countries.

New agreements on migration, energy and defence were announced after the first Franco-British summit in five years.

The UK Prime Minister laid out the new agreements in the French capital on Friday following what his host described as “excellent discussions” at the Elysee Palace.

The Conservative leader was accompanied to the summit by a huge delegation of government ministers including the secretaries for the foreign, home, energy and transport departments.

Mr Sunak and Mr Macron took part in group talks as well as an hour-long one-on-one meeting.

The British leader said one pact aimed to tackle illegal migration from France to the UK via the Channel. It will include the UK government funding a new detention centre in northern France and 500 law enforcement agents patrolling the coastline.

“All underpinned by more drones and other surveillance technologies that will help ramp up the intersection rate,” he added, referring to people trying to cross the Channel illegally.

A new command centre “bringing our enforcement teams together in one place for the first time” will also be set up under the agreement, he explained, stressing the problem of illegal migration is a “shared issue” for London and Paris.

Downing Street said the contract will also include the signatories working together “upstream” to stamp out illegal migration at source. Britain's National Crime Agency will work more closely with its French counterpart through basing law enforcement agents along routes frequented by people smugglers.

Speaking at a joint press conference, the British Prime Minister also unveiled the headway he had made on energy co-operation with France.

French President Emmanuel Macron hosts UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and government ministers at a summit in Paris. Getty
French President Emmanuel Macron hosts UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and government ministers at a summit in Paris. Getty

He announced “an ambitious new energy partnership” with the Macron administration which will ensure that Russia will never again be able to “weaponise our energy security”.

The deal on civil nuclear energy co-operation includes an agreement by Paris to “examine the case for new energy interconnectors” and a commitment to work together on low-carbon energy.

“Together, I believe, we are creating a future where every watt of energy powering our homes and industry will come from secure, sustainable and reliable sources,” Mr Sunak added.

A defence pact was also sealed between the two nations to strengthen co-operation on military matters in the face of Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Through the agreement, Britain and France will jointly train Ukrainian marines to give Kyiv “a decisive advantage on the battlefield” and win the war. Increasing interoperability between UK and French forces is also a hallmark of the deal.

The pact extends beyond European security to the Indo-Pacific region, where UK and French carrier deployments will be co-ordinated. It also includes a commitment by both parties to work together on weapons development, including long-range missiles and air defence systems.

Mr Sunak noted that France and the UK — both Nato members and the only European allies to be permanent members of the UN Security Council — are two of the world’s biggest defence powers.

The Conservative leader acknowledged that Franco-British relations had in the past been strained by “challenges”, but had now turned a corner.

“I believe today’s meeting does mark a new beginning, an entente renewed,” he said. “We are looking to the future, a future that builds on all that we share. Our history, our geography and our values, and the future that is far more ambitious about how we work together to improve the lives of the people that we serve.

“We’ve discussed every aspect of our crucial alliance today and made important progress in three areas in particular: illegal migration, energy, and security.

“Emmanuel and I share the same beliefs. Criminal gangs should not get to decide who comes to our countries.”

Mr Macron hailed the summit as a new era in relations between the neighbouring countries.

“It is a moment of reunion, of reconnection and of a new beginning,” he said.

He added that they had agreed on a “new ambitious bilateral framework” to tackle small boat crossings in the Channel.

“What we have decided is heightened co-ordination on our activities,” Mr Macron said. “We must act together in a fully shared framework to do this with all the Europeans who are concerned by the transit and crossing and some countries from which the traffic is organised.”

The French President — who was an outspoken critic of the UK's decision to leave the EU — said he wants to have the “best possible relations” with London but added that the government needs to “fix” the consequences of Brexit.

“On the short front, we have to fix the consequences of the Brexit,” he said in English, answering a question from a reporter. “Probably some of those consequences were underestimated but we have to fix them.

“What we want to do now is build new partnerships on defence and security, on facing the war [in Ukraine], regarding climate change in order to co-ordinate our international activity. And for our businesses and our people we want to build new links, new relations.

“My wish, definitely, because it makes sense with our history, our geography, our DNA, I would say, is to have the best possible relations and the closest alliance. But it will depend on our commitment, our willingness, but I am sure we will do it.”

Rishi Sunak and Emmanuel Macron meet in Paris — in pictures

How%20to%20avoid%20getting%20scammed
%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3ENever%20click%20on%20links%20provided%20via%20app%20or%20SMS%2C%20even%20if%20they%20seem%20to%20come%20from%20authorised%20senders%20at%20first%20glance%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EAlways%20double-check%20the%20authenticity%20of%20websites%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EEnable%20Two-Factor%20Authentication%20(2FA)%20for%20all%20your%20working%20and%20personal%20services%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EOnly%20use%20official%20links%20published%20by%20the%20respective%20entity%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EDouble-check%20the%20web%20addresses%20to%20reduce%20exposure%20to%20fake%20sites%20created%20with%20domain%20names%20containing%20spelling%20errors%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A
Gothia Cup 2025

4,872 matches 

1,942 teams

116 pitches

76 nations

26 UAE teams

15 Lebanese teams

2 Kuwaiti teams

Ain Dubai in numbers

126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure

1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch

16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.

9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.

5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place

192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.

Ferrari 12Cilindri specs

Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12

Power: 819hp

Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm

Price: From Dh1,700,000

Available: Now

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Related
The biog

Name: Abeer Al Bah

Born: 1972

Husband: Emirati lawyer Salem Bin Sahoo, since 1992

Children: Soud, born 1993, lawyer; Obaid, born 1994, deceased; four other boys and one girl, three months old

Education: BA in Elementary Education, worked for five years in a Dubai school

 

Tips to stay safe during hot weather
  • Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
  • Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
  • Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
  • Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
  • Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
  • Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
  • Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Conflict, drought, famine

Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.

Band Aid

Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.

2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups

Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.

Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.

Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.

Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.

Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.

Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.

Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.

Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.

Golden Shoe top five (as of March 1):

Harry Kane, Tottenham, Premier League, 24 goals, 48 points
Edinson Cavani, PSG, Ligue 1, 24 goals, 48 points
Ciro Immobile, Lazio, Serie A, 23 goals, 46 points
Mohamed Salah, Liverpool, Premier League, 23 goals, 46 points
Lionel Messi, Barcelona, La Liga, 22 goals, 44 points

The Bio

Name: Lynn Davison

Profession: History teacher at Al Yasmina Academy, Abu Dhabi

Children: She has one son, Casey, 28

Hometown: Pontefract, West Yorkshire in the UK

Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Favourite Author: CJ Sansom

Favourite holiday destination: Bali

Favourite food: A Sunday roast

The specs

Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors

Power: 480kW

Torque: 850Nm

Transmission: Single-speed automatic

Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)

On sale: Now

What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
THE CLOWN OF GAZA

Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah 

Starring: Alaa Meqdad

Rating: 4/5

The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPowertrain%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle%20electric%20motor%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E201hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E310Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E53kWh%20lithium-ion%20battery%20pack%20(GS%20base%20model)%3B%2070kWh%20battery%20pack%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETouring%20range%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E350km%20(GS)%3B%20480km%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh129%2C900%20(GS)%3B%20Dh149%2C000%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates

A Dog's Journey 

Directed by: Gail Mancuso

Starring: Dennis Quaid, Josh Gad, Marg Helgenberger, Betty Gilpin, Kathryn Prescott

3 out of 5 stars

Our legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

The Africa Institute 101

Housed on the same site as the original Africa Hall, which first hosted an Arab-African Symposium in 1976, the newly renovated building will be home to a think tank and postgraduate studies hub (it will offer master’s and PhD programmes). The centre will focus on both the historical and contemporary links between Africa and the Gulf, and will serve as a meeting place for conferences, symposia, lectures, film screenings, plays, musical performances and more. In fact, today it is hosting a symposium – 5-plus-1: Rethinking Abstraction that will look at the six decades of Frank Bowling’s career, as well as those of his contemporaries that invested social, cultural and personal meaning into abstraction. 

Updated: March 10, 2023, 5:19 PM`