In Rome, the image of the decline in Franco-American tensions after the crisis

Joe Biden and Emmanuel Macron, October 29, 2021 in Rome.

AFP - LUDOVIC MARIN

Text by: RFI Follow

4 min

Emmanuel Macron and Joe Biden met in Rome this Friday, October 29, 2021. This visit between French and American heads of state, placed under the sign of appeasement after the crisis of Australian submarines, was eagerly awaited on the French side.

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With our special correspondent in Rome, 

This image of Emmanuel Macron and Joe Biden side-by-side, shaking hands, marks from the French point of view that the American president wants to make efforts after the great anger of Paris, in mid-September, following the announcement of the breach of what has been called the "contract of the century".

Australia, which was to buy French submarines, had turned without warning to sign with the Americans.

Recall that France then recalled its ambassadors to the United States and Australia in protest, a strong diplomatic gesture vis-à-vis an ally like the United States.

Joe Biden immediately understood the message and asked to join Emmanuel Macron on the phone to mark the occasion.

The French president had made him wait several days before speaking to him.

► To read again: After the submarine crisis, Macron receives Biden in Rome as a curtain raiser from the G20

This phone call was the first step towards reconciliation.

It was at this time that it was decided to schedule a meeting between the two presidents.

And this meeting, it finally took place in Rome on the sidelines of the G20 this Friday.

Joe Biden making the trip to Europe, the opportunity was found.

But what Emmanuel Macron wanted was for the meeting to take place in a French place, in Rome.

A way of making a gesture to recognize that the Aukus alliance, between the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia, had represented a prejudice, with repercussions for France, one explains in the entourage Of the president. But the request having been validated, the question was then to know where: at the French embassy, ​​famous Farnese palace? At the Medici villa? And it is the embassy in the Vatican, the Villa Bonaparte, which was chosen to take into account the security measures necessary for the reception of the American president, explains the Elysee.

The meeting started late, an hour and a half, because Joe Biden first saw Pope Francis for an hour and a quarter, an interview described as " 

" by the American president. The latter then met the Head of State and the Italian Prime Minister, discussions which took longer than expected. Emmanuel Macron and Joe Biden said a few words on the latter's arrival, to set the tone before meeting face-to-face and then with their delegation. Jean-Yves Le Drian and Bruno Le Maire were present.

European sovereignty and Indo-Pacific strategy, fight against terrorism in the Sahel, cooperation on renewable energies and nuclear power, arms exports and technologies: with @JoeBiden, we have taken concrete measures to rebuild confidence.

pic.twitter.com/bilCvB1II4

- Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) October 29, 2021

► Also read: In Rome for the G20, Joe Biden meets at length with Pope Francis

Emmanuel Macron was delighted to receive Joe Biden. He thanked him and said that now we have to think about the future. The ambition of the French president is indeed to build a new cooperation with the United States, to regain confidence after settling the dispute. And on that score, Joe Biden did not apologize, but admitted that what the Americans had done was awkward - although he also said he felt that France knew his agreement with Australia would not be held, history to relativize the bad way done in France.

Joe Biden also reaffirmed his desire to stay alongside France, described as the oldest and most loyal ally, a precious partner.

Sweet words to show his desire for appeasement in order to preserve good relations with France.

So is this the end of the quarrel?

On the French side, we show caution;

we will see in the long term, we are told.

After such great stress, rebuilding confidence will take time.

Emmanuel Macron spoke of the beginning of a process of trust.

But this Roman meeting still fulfilled its role: to show an image, that of Emmanuel Macron and Joe Biden, at work together.

Emmanuel Macron: "It is the future that we must look at"

Valerie Gas

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