Macron travels to Brazil after expressing his confidence in the Ariane rocket

Emmanuel Macron, during a visit to French Guiana, emphasized his confidence in the European space program, particularly in the Ariane rocket, despite the challenges it faces in catching up to its American competitor, SpaceX. His visit to this French overseas department also aimed to highlight the region's economic development, notably through the Kourou space center, a symbol of European cooperation in the space domain.

The French president underscored the importance of the future heavy-lift launcher Ariane 6, whose inaugural flight is scheduled for late June or early July. This new rocket is intended to restore Europe's autonomy in space access, but it has been delayed by four years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and technical difficulties. Macron nonetheless praised the commitment of the teams working on the project and pledged continuous support to the European space sector.

The visit to French Guiana also provided an opportunity for the French president to address local issues such as combating illegal fishing and clandestine mining, which pose major challenges for the region. He announced measures to renew the local fishing fleet and discussed the possibility of developing a legal gold mining sector to reduce illegal activity.

Following his visit to French Guiana, Emmanuel Macron traveled to Brazil for a three-day state visit. This visit holds particular significance as France seeks to strengthen its relations with Brazil under the presidency of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, aiming to turn the page on past tensions with the government of Jair Bolsonaro.

Franco-Brazilian cooperation is expected to focus on various areas, including environmental protection in the Amazon, where both heads of state will demonstrate that it is possible to reconcile economic development and environmental preservation. Delicate subjects will also be addressed, such as the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement, which France is blocking due to agricultural concerns, as well as the situation in Ukraine, which Brazil presides over as the G20 president.

Emmanuel Macron hopes that this visit will help strengthen ties between France and Brazil and open up new avenues for bilateral cooperation, while consolidating France's role as a major player on the international stage.