A call, a press release and the hatchet was buried. Emmanuel Macron and Joe Biden spoke on the phone at the request of the American president to “examine the consequences” of the submarine crisis. During the call, Joe Biden acknowledged that
"open consultations between allies on issues of strategic interest to France and European partners would have made it possible to avoid the situation"
. After that ? Here is the French Ambassador Philippe Étienne back to the United States next week, while
“in-depth consultations”
will be put in place to restore confidence between the two countries. A week after the crisis, the dialogue already seems to have been reestablished.
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"This is a de-escalation, not a reconciliation,"
tempers Annick Cizel, teacher-researcher specializing in American foreign policy at the Sorbonne Nouvelle University - Paris 3. "
France could not afford to remain confused too much. a long time with the United States.
They remain our most important ally in the fight against terrorism in the Sahel.
We absolutely need a strong and constructive relationship with them, on many subjects,
”analyzes political scientist Alexandra de Hoop Scheffer.
It would appear, however, that the week of anger was not in vain.
"Joe Biden seems to have realized the consequences of this crisis on his relations with France and with Europe"
, continues the researcher.
While the bilateral call between the two countries was to take place "in the coming days", the American president hastened to join his French counterpart on Wednesday.
“And Antony Blinken found the time to urgently receive Jean-Yves Le Drian.
That means, somewhere, that a message has been heard, ”
observes Annick Cizel.
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The start of a standoff
For Annick Cizel, it is even
"an arm
wrestling
"
which begins. Emmanuel Macron met with Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the UN discussions and pledged to "strengthen India's strategic autonomy": a way, according to the researcher, to reaffirm the French vision of alliances strategic locations in the Indo-Pacific.
“We must understand that it is not only a question of the
“
contract of the century
”
, which certainly escapes us, but of the question of the alliances which oust France in the Indo-Pacific. By boycotting the UN, France catches the Americans by surprise on their relations with India and reaffirms the general principle of strategic autonomy, which the United States does not understand ”
,explains Annick Cizel.
But does France have the means to afford this balance of power?
“Historically, we have proven that France has the means,”
says Annick Cizel.
"The country is certainly a middle power in terms of its operational capacities, but we are nonetheless a permanent member of the UN Security Council and the only European nuclear power."
For Alexandra de Hoop Scheffer, the crisis will have even been the occasion for France to obtain a “diplomatic compensation”: “
This crisis will have allowed a clarification between France and the United States on a certain number of subjects: the Sahel , Defense Europe, the recognition of France in the Indo-Pacific ”
, she assures us.
"But the bond of trust remains to be rebuilt."
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