French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Labour leader Keir Starmer are set for an unconventional diplomatic meeting. Amid the formalities and high-level talks, is an Arsenal football shirt, gifted by Starmer to Macron.

As diplomatic encounters go, the forthcoming meeting between French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Labour leader Keir Starmer promises to be far from ordinary.

While a great deal of attention will be on the political talks and policy proposals, it’s an Arsenal football shirt, gifted by Starmer, that has garnered significant interest, from this website at least.

The Telegraph reports that the Arsenal-supporting Labour leader aims to resonate with Macron’s well-known fondness for football, specifically for Olympique de Marseille, by gifting him the Arsenal shirt.

Macron, for his part, plans to gift Starmer a pair of cufflinks that say “République française”.

Initially, a more formal gift—a book about the presidential palace—was contemplated, but the French president opted for cufflinks, as a less ‘stuffy’ option.

The unconventional rendezvous represents a break from the traditional diplomatic norm, given that Macron and Starmer hail from different political lineages and Starmer is still only the leader of the opposition.

Nonetheless, the meeting is taking place against the backdrop of improving relations between the UK and France, partly due to the belief that the UK will see a change of government soon.

Starmer is set to discuss key policy matters with the French administration, including possibly exploring potential renegotiations concerning the post-Brexit Trade and Cooperation Agreement, set for review in 2025.