Antony Blinken, U.S. secretary of state, during a group photo following the inaugural Trade and Technology Council (TTC) meeting in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Sept. 29, 2021. Photo: Michael Swensen/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit France next week as the U.S. continues efforts to regain ground with the European country after the fallout of the Australia-U.S.-UK (AUKUS) deal, the State Department said Friday.
Why it matters: America's oldest ally was blindsided earlier this month when President Biden announced a new agreement to help Australia acquire nuclear submarines as part of a trilateral Indo-Pacific security initiative. The pact canceled Australia's $90 billion submarine deal with France.
- French President Emmanuel Macron recalled French Ambassador Philippe Etienne to Paris in response.
- "Allies don't do this to each other," French foreign minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, said at the time.
- Since the Sept. 15 announcement, the U.S. has scrambled to smooth things over with France and the European Union.
Driving the news: Blinken met with Etienne in D.C. on Friday upon his return and discussed "the way forward in the U.S.-French bilateral relationship," including ways to "enhance U.S. and French cooperation globally," the State Department said.
What to watch: Blinken will travel to Paris for the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting next week.