During their first telephone interview since the American president took office, Emmanuel Macron and Joe Biden "observed a great convergence of views" on major international issues, in particular to fight against Covid-19 "in the context of WHO "and on the climate after the return of the United States to the Paris Agreement.

Emmanuel Macron and Joe Biden have "observed a great convergence of views" on major international issues, in particular to fight against Covid-19 "within the framework of the WHO" and on the climate after the return of the United States to the Paris Agreement, the Elysee said on Sunday.

For their first telephone interview since the American president took office, the two heads of state also stated "their desire to act together for peace in the Near and Middle East, in particular on the Iranian nuclear issue", the presidency said in a statement.

Strengthen bilateral ties "with France," our oldest ally "

This "friendly and working conversation" was held in English for an hour, it was specified in the entourage of the French president.

For its part, the White House said that Joe Biden had told Emmanuel Macron "his desire to strengthen bilateral ties" with France, "our oldest ally", but also "the transatlantic relationship" through " NATO and the United States' partnership with the European Union ".

Coordinate on "common challenges such as climate change"

Emmanuel Macron welcomed Wednesday, the day of the inauguration of Joe Biden, Washington's decision to reinstate the Paris agreement on the climate and the World Health Organization (WHO), signaling his return to multilateral institutions after four years of frenzied unilateralism under President Donald Trump.

The two leaders agreed on the need to coordinate on "common challenges such as climate change, Covid-19 and the recovery of the world economy", according to the White House press release.

"Working together on shared foreign policy priorities"

"They also agreed to work together on shared priorities in foreign policy, especially on China, the Middle East, Russia and the Sahel," he said.

On all these subjects, the two presidents "have agreed to stay in very close contact in the coming weeks", according to the Elysee, even if no physical meeting can be fixed for the moment because of the Covid-19 crisis.


Emmanuel Macron and Joe Biden spoke for the first time on November 10, after the election of the President of the United States.

But Emmanuel Macron, who came to power in 2017, has never met Joe Biden who was Barack Obama's vice-president between 2009 and 2017.

The Elysee said Sunday that the French president had been "sensitive" to the reference to the French origins of Joe Biden, who took an oath on a family heritage, a Douai Bible more than 400 years old.

Since arriving at the White House, Joe Biden has already met with Canadian Prime Ministers Justin Trudeau and British Prime Ministers Boris Johnson.