Europe 1 with AFP 6:28 p.m., September 22, 2021, modified at 6:48 p.m., September 22, 2021

The French president and his American counterpart called each other on Wednesday afternoon.

At the end of this interview, the White House and the Elysee issued a joint statement, in which France explains that the ambassador to the United States would be back in Washington next week.

According to a joint statement from the Elysee and the White House, after an interview on the Australian submarine crisis, Emmanuel Macron and Joe Biden agreed to carry out "in-depth consultations" to guarantee "confidence "between the two countries. "Open consultations among allies on issues of strategic interest to France and European partners would have avoided this situation. President Biden has expressed his lasting commitment to this subject," the statement said.

As a result, the two American and French heads of state, who will meet "in Europe at the end of October", have "decided to launch a process of in-depth consultations aimed at putting in place the conditions guaranteeing confidence and to propose concrete measures to achieve common objectives ".

Ambassador to return to Washington "next week"

In this context of appeasement, the French ambassador to the United States, Philippe Etienne, will return to Washington "next week", Emmanuel Macron decided.

Paris announced Friday the recall of the ambassadors to the United States and Australia, an unprecedented decision vis-à-vis two historic allies, after the torpedoing of a mega-contract of French submarines in Canberra.

Joe Biden also affirmed that it was "necessary for European defense to be stronger and more efficient" to contribute to transatlantic security and complete "the role of NATO". The United States "reaffirms that the engagement of France and the European Union in the Indo-Pacific region is of strategic importance," adds the statement issued six days after the outbreak of the most serious diplomatic crisis between the United States and France since the French "no" to the Iraq war in 2003.