Paris (AFP)
Emmanuel Macron and Joe Biden on Wednesday promised in a phone call to restore confidence between France and the United States after the Australian submarine crisis, which could have been avoided by "open consultations" upstream, according to a statement common to the Elysée and the White House.
"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 ".
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 press release 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.
© 2021 AFP