French President Emmanuel Macron has reaffirmed France’s strategic partnership with Kenya in pushing a global agenda that balances economic growth with environmental protection, ahead of the 2026 Africa-France Summit set to take place in Nairobi.

Speaking from Seville, Spain, at a high-level global cooperation forum, Macron highlighted his alignment with President William Ruto’s vision of development that does not come at the cost of the planet.

“With President William Ruto, we share a common commitment: that no country should have to choose between development and protecting the planet,” said Macron. “This is the ambition we are bringing to Seville with our partners, as part of the Pact for Prosperity, People and the Planet launched two years ago in Paris.”

The upcoming summit, to be co-chaired by France and Kenya, will focus on forging innovative partnerships to advance Africa’s sustainable development goals while fostering inclusive economic growth.

Macron noted that the two nations are working closely on bilateral projects aimed at energy transition, sustainable transport infrastructure, and climate-smart agriculture initiatives he said reflect the kind of practical collaboration needed to build climate-resilient economies.

Beyond development, the leaders also underscored their joint commitment to promoting peace and stability across Africa, especially in the Great Lakes region, Sudan, and Somalia.

“We reaffirmed our shared commitment to peace and security,” Macron said, pointing to France and Kenya’s active roles in regional diplomacy and development support.

The Africa-France Summit in Nairobi will be the first of its kind to be held on the continent and is expected to mark a new phase in relations between France and African nations, with Kenya taking a central role.