
Visit to New York and Washington, D.C., by Mr. Jean-Yves Le Drian from July 3 to 6
On July 3 and 4, the minister will be in New York. He will mark the passage of the Hermione on the Fourth of July, and will preside over a ceremony at which American WWII veterans who distinguished themselves during the Liberation of France will receive the insignia of the Legion of Honor.
On July 6, he will travel to Washington to meet his counterpart, U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter. They will review the strategic partnerships between the two allied nations, which are both engaged in counterterrorism efforts. The minister will also meet with National Security Advisor Susan Rice, and he will take part in a round table discussion at the German Marshall Fund on the future of French-American cooperation on defense and security.
Indicative program of the Defense Minister’s visit
Items in italics are not open to the press
(New York and Washington, D.C. = Paris -6 hours)
Friday, July 3
04:30pm – Arrival at Pier 15
05:00pm – Beginning of Legion of Honor ceremony honoring American veterans
05:10pm – Speech by Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian
05:35pm – Bestowal of insignia
06:10pm – Open mike
06:30pm – Tour of the Hermione
Saturday, July 4
11:00am – Arrival at the Intrepid and boarding of Coast Guard vessel
12:00pm – Fleet review in front of the Statue of Liberty
Cannon salute – aerial flyover
01:00pm – Boarding of the Intrepid
Monday, July 6
09:45am – Arrival at the Pentagon
Bilateral meeting between the French Defense Minister and U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter
11:00am – Joint press conference
11:30am – End of press conference
01:00pm – Meeting with U.S. National Security Advisor Susan Rice at the White House
04:00pm – Lecture/discussion at the German Marshall Fund on the future of French-American cooperation on defense and security
Press Contacts
Office of the Defense Minister
Press and Communication Office
Tel. 33/1-42-19-67-16 – Fax 33/1-42-19-41-71
com.cabinet@defense.gouv.fr
Delegation for Defense Information and Communication (DICoD)
Press Center
Tel. 33/1-44-42-54-02 – Fax 33/1-44-42-41-22
presse@dicod.defense.gouv.fr