After Paris recalled its ambassador, America confirms: France is a vital ally

After Paris recalled its ambassadors to the United States and in Australia for consultations, the United States confirmed on Friday that France is a “vital ally”.

“France is our oldest ally and we value our relationship the utmost,” said State Department spokesman Ned Price. in a note.

He also added that Washington hopes to continue discussion on this issue at a high level in the coming days, including at the UN General Assembly meeting in New York next week.

For its part, the White House on Friday expressed its “regret” for Paris by recalling its ambassador to the United States, but said Washington would work to resolve this diplomatic dispute.

Dispute resolution

“We are sorry that they have taken this step and will continue to communicate in the coming days to resolve our differences, as we have done on other issues during our long alliance,” said a White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The official’s statement came after French President Emmanuel Macron ordered the recall of his country’s ambassadors to the United States and in Australia.

Australia’s decision to cancel a contract to purchase conventional French submarines angered Paris, especially as Canberra has also forged a new alliance with Britain and the United States to build nuclear-powered submarines.

French submarine - archive

French submarine – archive

stabbed in the back

As for the French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, he described what happened as a “stab in the back”, adding that “this unilateral, sudden and unexpected decision is very similar to what (the former president of the United States Donald) was doing Trump. “

But the White House official said, “We are in close contact with our French partners “.

“We also share an interest in ensuring that the Indo-Pacific region remains free and open. We will continue our close cooperation with NATO, the European Union and other partners. in this common effort “.

Flag of America and Australia

Flag of America and Australia

New security alliance

This came after the US president announced on Wednesday a new security alliance with Australia and Britain that will develop a fleet of nuclear-powered Australian submarines.

As a result, Australia notified France that it would cancel its contract with DCNS, which it is in largely government-owned, to build 12 of the world’s largest conventional submarines, in a move that Paris regarded as a stab and betrayal.

Interestingly, Australia has spent AU $ 2.4 billion (US $ 1.8 billion) on the project since the French won the contract in 2016, but its prime minister has made it clear that US nuclear submarines were not an option for his country when the French deal was concluded.

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