U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks to the media after meetings on the sidelines of the 76th Session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York, Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021. (Eduardo Munoz/Pool Photo via AP)
OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 9:57 AM PT – Friday, September 24, 2021
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he’s committed to working closely with France’s foreign minister in order to restore bilateral ties with France.
During the most recent United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York on Thursday, Blinken announced his plans to get U.S.-France relations back to how they used to be before the announcement of the U.S., U.K. and Australia nuclear submarine deal.
“We recognize this will take time and hard work,” he stated. “And will be demonstrated not only in words, but in deeds. And I’m committed to working closely with Minister (Jean-Yves ) Le Drian on this crucial effort.”
Regarding the Indo-Pacific region, the Biden administration agreed the U.S. should have been more transparent. Blinken emphasized he welcomes leadership and engagement from both Europe and France in efforts to counter China.
“The European Union strategy that that came out on the Indo-Pacific a few days ago, a strategy in which France played a leading role in developing, is one that we very, very strongly welcome,” he explained.
The secretary of state also noted how U.S.-France relations are already thriving in regards to anti-terrorism in Africa after the French military took out a senior terrorist leader in the Sahel region who posed a threat to both countries.
“That was very important and significant action following on the work that France does every day to protect our security in the Sahel with the strong support and collaboration of the United States,” Blinken noted. “We will look at ways to do even more together.”
His comments came after after a phone call took place between Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday, which led to a process of “in-depth” consultations on a series of issues that is now underway.
Blinken said the U.S. and France will discuss transatlantic and European security in the near future and applauded French leaders for the work they have already done with NATO.
