Biden Speaks with Macron For the First Time Since France Recalled Its Ambassador to the US

 

Joe Biden spoke to French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday for the first time since France recalled its ambassador to the US.

The government of French President Macron announced last Friday afternoon it was recalling their ambassadors to the United States and Australia for consultations in the wake of a defense agreement with the U.S., Australia and the United Kingdom that shut out France and cancelled a multi-billion dollar submarine deal between France and Australia.

This is the first time France has recalled its U.S. ambassador in the well over 200 years of close relations dating to France’s support for the American Revolution.

France was angry after they learned about Joe Biden’s unilateral decision to freeze France out of the deal with Australia.

France learned about the deal in the media.

Joe Biden didn’t even contact France about the deal ahead of time, a move the country’s Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Drian blasted as “unpredictable.”

According to the White House, Joe Biden called Macron.

“The two leaders agreed that the situation would have benefitted from open consultations among allies on matters of strategic interest to France and our European partners,” a White House readout of the call read.

Macron agreed to send the French Ambassador back to Washington next week.