The heads of French and American diplomacy exchanged, Wednesday, January 27, during their first telephone interview since the inauguration of Joe Biden.

An interview which took place in French and during which Jean-Yves Le Drian underlined "the importance of continuing our joint efforts to fight terrorism" in the Middle East as well as in the Sahel, it was specified. in his entourage.

Just before the arrival of his successor Joe Biden at the White House, President Donald Trump reduced the US military presence to just 2,500 troops in Iraq.

France is worried about a resurgence of the Islamic State Organization (OEI) in this country and in Syria, against which the French military remains mobilized within an international coalition led by Washington.

Antony Blinken, for his part, underlined the American desire to "continue strong cooperation" with France in the fight against terrorism in the Sahel, without further details.

The American army is providing the French operation Barkhane with valuable intelligence and surveillance capabilities - in particular thanks to its drones -, in-flight refueling and logistical transport.

In early 2020, Donald Trump's administration warned that the United States intended to reduce its presence in Africa, causing France to fear a reduction in American aid.

>> To read: Antony Blinken, a French speaker to take over the reins of American diplomacy

The head of French diplomacy and the US secretary of state, who is also a perfect French speaker - he was educated in Paris - also spoke of "the need for close coordination to respond to the Iranian crisis".

The new US administration says it is ready to return to the Iran nuclear deal once Iran has resumed its commitments.

Tehran, supported by Russia, is demanding exactly the opposite scenario, which augurs well for new and very complicated diplomatic maneuvers to save the agreement.

For a "rebalanced transatlantic relationship"

Jean-Yves Le Drian also "insisted on the efforts made (by France, editor's note) for stability and reforms in Lebanon".

French President Emmanuel Macron has tried in vain to wrest the formation of a government ready to undertake structural reforms to get Lebanon out of the political and social rut.

But the United States has been very critical after exchanges between the head of state and the pro-Iranian Shiite movement Hezbollah in Beirut.

"We expect that there will be more American realism on what is possible or not given the circumstances in Lebanon," said the French presidency on Tuesday to journalists from the French Diplomatic Press Association. (APDF).

Jean-Yves Le Drian also pleaded for "a strengthened and rebalanced transatlantic relationship and Atlantic alliance" with the arrival of Joe Biden, as well as for close coordination between the EU and the United States on "the issues of trade and China ".

Antony Blinken stressed "the American desire to work with France, our oldest ally, and our other partners to respond to common challenges, including Covid-19, the climate and China," according to a statement from the State Department .

With AFP

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