While the relationship between France and the United States has been historically strong, the French state visit has come at a time when the two nations need to work through some issues and get back to their former strength as an allyship.

Article by Lydia McFarlane, Junior White House Producer

WASHINGTON - With the French state visit to the United States happening on Thursday, questions about the relationship between the two nations have come up. The United States and France have longstanding diplomatic ties, and the relationship between the two powerful nations goes back centuries.

France served as a key ally to the United States during the American Revolution, and France officially entered into a diplomatic agreement with the United States in 1778 following its independence from Britain. Relations between the two nations were temporarily severed during World War II, when France was occupied briefly by the Nazis. The government at this time was known as “Vichy France,” and these Nazi rulers were the ones to sever the tie between the nations in 1942. However, their relationship was reinstated again in 1944. 

Both the United States and France are permanent members, of which there are five, of the United Nations Security Council. France is the United States’ third largest trading partner in Europe, falling behind only the UK and Germany.

These two global superpowers collaborate in many areas, including in the UN, NATO, the World Bank, G20, G7, and even more international organizations. 

While the relationship between the United States and France has remained loyal and enduring through history, this particular state visit has come at a time when the relationship needs some tending to. Recently, the United States entered into a nuclear submarine deal with Australia, causing the cancellation of a major submarine contract between France and Australia. The loss of this contract lost France a large sum of money and left French President Emmanuel Macron infuriated with their ally the United States. Although President Biden apologized and President Macron called for continued collaboration and transparency between the two nations, the state visit will give the leaders of these nations a chance to reconcile and build the relationship back up between their respective nations. 

Following the incident with the submarine, President Biden said to Macron that France is, “an incredible, valued partner," and that "we [the United States] have no older and no more loyal, no more decent ally than France."

While the submarine deal proved damaging to the United States’ and France’s relationship, there are a few other subjects that may threaten their alliance as well. Macron is expected to speak with Biden about his climate and infrastructure bill. Macron and other European leaders are worried that Biden’s made in America electric car provisions will harm the European car industry. French officials have said that Biden needs to consider the implications of his domestic policies on their allies. 

Besides these issues in their relationship, the United States and France tend to stand together when it comes to issues of defense; and because of this, talks of Ukraine and Russia are expected to take place throughout the duration of the French visit. The two countries will do what they have always done—put their heads together to aid their allies and come up with solutions to conflict. 

While the relationship between France and the United States has been historically strong, the French state visit has come at a time when the two nations need to work through some issues and get back to their former strength as an allyship. The historical bond between the two has allowed for open communication and conflict resolution when the two nations run into issues together.