France and Washington state share the same ambitions

The state of Washington and France are separated by thousands of miles, and an ocean, yet they have much in common. As a Frenchman, I could mention the beauty of the landscapes, or the vineyards of Bordeaux and Washington that sit near the same geographical latitude, the 45th Parallel North. But our bonds are much deeper than that.

This week as I begin my first visit to the Evergreen State in my capacity of Ambassador of France to the United States, I cannot help noticing that France and Washington state share the same ambitions.

Last year, the state Legislature passed a series of bills to protect women’s right to abortion. A few days ago, the French Parliament enshrined the right to abortion in the French Constitution, making it a fundamental right. This historic decision — France is the first country globally to do so — resonates deeply with the ideals of Washington, where access to health care and individual liberty are championed and protected.

France and Washington also share the same commitment to combat human-induced climate change and protect nature. Our regions have taken bold commitments to halve their greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and reach carbon neutrality by 2050.

We are passing laws to implement these commitments on the ground, such as Washington’s cap-and-invest mechanism, one of the first in the United States, or the Emissions Trading System in the European Union. We are transforming our economies to transition away from fossil fuels as quickly as possible and are creating new and well-paid jobs in the green industry. We are also both convinced that we need to enhance the protection of our lands and waters. I will have the chance to discuss these issues, among others, in my meetings with local officials.

These ambitions make France and Washington state partners in many fields. We share the same passion for innovation. Washington is home to some of the largest and most successful tech companies in the world. They employ hundreds of French talents and also have a strong presence in France, where they invest and create thousands of jobs.

France is a fast-growing tech ecosystem. In particular, Washington and France are among the most important players in the field of artificial intelligence, a fast-developing technology that has huge potential for our societies and economies if it is well used. France will host the next international summit on artificial intelligence at the end of 2024 or early 2025 and, in this context, will value contributions from all actors. I will have the opportunity to exchange on these issues with leaders at Microsoft and Amazon.

France and Washington also have strong exchanges in the field of aerospace, an industry that is fast evolving to integrate new technologies and become more sustainable. Boeing has attracted many French players to the Greater Seattle area. All Boeing 737 MAX engines, for example, are manufactured by a joint venture between General Electric and the French aerospace company Safran. Boeing’s first ties with France date back to 1910 and today the Boeing “French Team” (more than 100 French companies working on Boeing programs) is the spearhead of this cooperation. Many French companies are in Seattle this week to participate in the Aerospace & Defense Supplier Summit, one of the reasons of my visit. Overall, French companies and their subsidiaries currently employ more than 10,000 people in Washington, making France the 5th largest foreign job-provider in the state.

These economic links are supported by strong human connections. More than 4,000 French citizens live in Washington. Seattle is home to no fewer than four French-American schools, all expanding as the demand for bilingual education in French keeps growing. The Alliance Française de Seattle, which offers French language courses for all levels and cultural activities, is one of the most successful in the United States.

We are developing exchanges with the University of Washington, where I will have the the pleasure of meeting students Tuesday. I also look forward to an exchange with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, with which French institutions have many joint projects to improve people’s health across the world.

And we need these partnerships and shared ambitions on the international stage, as a conflict thousands of miles away from Seattle proves to be a defining moment of our times. Russia’s war on Ukraine has plunged us into one of the most severe crises since the collective security system was established by the Greatest Generation on the West Coast, in 1945 with the signing of the United Nations Charter of San Francisco.

It is up to us now to protect this legacy of 75 years of peace. Europe and its member states have thrown their full support behind Ukraine, by allocating more than US$150 billion in aid. On Feb. 16, France and Ukraine signed a bilateral 10-year security agreement. The Ukrainians are not only fighting for themselves but for all of us. By supporting them, we are strengthening the security of both Europe and the U.S. because how we confront this illegal aggression will be watched by other powers in the world. And despite numerous challenges, the Ukrainians are not backing down. On the contrary, the Russian economy faces long-term hardships brought on by international sanctions, reinforced lately by additional ones adopted in the aftermath of opposition leader Aleksei Navalny’s death.

France is the United States’ oldest ally, and we know that this alliance will remain steadfast in the years to come. And as we look to the future, with its opportunity and its challenges, I am confident that particularly the relations between France and Washington state will help sustain these shared ambitions for innovation, fight against climate change and defense of our collective system.