British Prime Minister Lise Trace confirmed that French President Emmanuel Macron is a "friend" of the United Kingdom, after raising the issue in the summer.
"He is a friend," Terrace told reporters in Prague on Thursday, where the first summit of the European political group is being held.
"I'm working closely with President Macron and the French government. We're talking about how the UK and France can work more closely together to build more nuclear power plants and make sure both countries have energy security for the future," she added.
"We are both very clear that the enemy is Vladimir Putin who, with his horrific war on Ukraine, has threatened freedom and democracy in Europe and raised energy prices that we must all face," she said.
At the end of August, when she was foreign minister and prime ministerial candidate, conservative Lise Terrass sparked controversy when she refused to say whether Macron was a "friend" or "enemy".
"The verdict in this case is still being discussed," she said at the time.
The French president responded by emphasizing that the United Kingdom is a "friendly, strong and ally country, no matter who rules it".
Terrace met Macron on the sidelines of the Prague summit (Getty)
Since then, London has tried to calm things down, at a time when the two countries are at odds over many issues, especially the management of post-Brexit files, such as fishing and Northern Ireland.
Macron and Terrace met during the United Nations General Assembly in mid-September.
On Tuesday, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverley said there was "no doubt" that the UK would do "fabulously" with France, despite the frequent disagreements between the two countries.
After their meeting on Thursday, Teresa and Macron agreed to "deepen cooperation in the field of illegal immigration within the limits of international law, and to address criminal groups that engage in human trafficking across Europe, which ends with dangerous journeys across the Channel," according to a statement by the British Prime Minister.