Macron awards Starmer Légion d'honneur for Europe security role
French President Emmanuel Macron has awarded Keir Starmer the Légion d'honneur, marking a definitive end to years of Brexit-era friction between London and Paris and validating their joint leadership on European security.
Emmanuel Macron presented Keir Starmer with the Légion d’honneur in Paris on Monday, making the outgoing British prime minister the first UK leader to receive the award directly from a French president. The ceremony took place during Bastille Day celebrations, where Starmer met British troops involved in the events and watched the military parade alongside Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The award recognises Starmer’s central role in establishing the "coalition of the willing" during a critical moment for Europe in early 2025. Chaired by France and the UK, the group comprises more than 30 countries that have pledged financial and military support to Ukraine, sanctioned Russia, and proposed a multinational peacekeeping force for when hostilities eventually cease.
Macron said Starmer had played a "historic role" in building the alliance. "We found with you a very reliable and friendly partner," the French president said, citing his gratitude for Starmer's "personal leadership and your commitments for obviously your country, but the security of our Europe, Ukraine, the bilateral relationship, your decency."
The honour underscores a dramatic diplomatic reset following years of strained relations. Macron had frequently clashed with Starmer’s Conservative predecessors—Theresa May, Boris Johnson, and Liz Truss—over Brexit. By contrast, Starmer’s approach to international affairs became a defining strength of his time in office, re-establishing the UK as a primary partner for Paris on continental security.
The Bastille Day events doubled as Starmer’s final coalition summit. Zelenskyy praised his "constant, steadfast support", while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz suggested Starmer’s departure would not end his influence, noting he would still "phone you occasionally to get your opinion on this or that".
Starmer confirmed that British backing for Ukraine would persist under his successor, Andy Burnham. The UK has maintained continuous military and humanitarian aid to Kyiv, as well as sanctions against Moscow, since Boris Johnson condemned the Russian invasion in February 2022.
Winston Churchill remains the only other British prime minister to receive a Légion d’honneur, awarded the higher-level Grand-Croix in 1958 for his wartime leadership and close ties to France. While the order has recognised figures like Dwight D. Eisenhower, Willy Brandt and Nelson Mandela, it has also sparked controversy; Jacques Chirac awarded the honour to Bashar al-Assad in 2001 and Vladimir Putin in 2006, before later revoking both.
