US President Joe Biden will receive his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron on December 1 at the White House, for what will be a state visit, the White House spokeswoman announced on Monday (September 26).

"This visit will testify to the depth and vigor of the relationship between the United States and France, our oldest ally," said Karine Jean-Pierre.

State visits are celebrated with great fanfare and thus contrast with the bilateral meetings organized by US presidents for foreign leaders.

None have taken place so far under the presidency of Joe Biden, which Karine Jean-Pierre attributed to the restrictions linked to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Asked about the choice of France for this premiere under Joe Biden, the spokesperson replied: "We attach great importance to our relations with France."

The ties are "based on shared democratic values, economic ties and defense and security cooperation".

Submarine Crisis

Relations between Paris and Washington suffered a major crisis last year when Australia abruptly announced that it was abandoning a contract to buy French conventional submarines in favor of a nuclear submarine deal. American attackers.

The rupture of the agreement had angered Paris, which accused Australia of having lied and recalled - a rare occurrence - its ambassadors in Canberra and Washington.

Transatlantic tensions have since eased, with Emmanuel Macron emerging as an important partner for Joe Biden in the response to Russia after its invasion of Ukraine.

A source within the French presidency said the trip, which will culminate in a state dinner, would "underline the deep and enduring relationship between France and the United States", particularly with regard to a " close cooperation in defense and security".

Joe Biden and Emmanuel Macron last saw each other on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York last week.

The two leaders have also had "several conversations" over the past 18 months, said Karine Jean-Pierre.

With AFP

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