The alliance of the U.S. and France has “transformed” and reached a new level because of closely-aligned interests and values, a joint statement by the two presidents have said.
“A decade ago, few would have imagined our two countries working so closely together in so many ways.
“But in recent years our alliance has transformed,” wrote U.S. President Barack Obama and French President Francois Hollande the statement said.
Since France’s return to NATO’s military command four years ago, Washington and Paris have expanded cooperation across the board and taken their alliance to a new level, a statement said during the first day of Hollande’s three-day state visit to the US.
The presidents wrote that deepening U.S.-France partnership offers a model for international cooperation as transnational challenges cannot be met by any one nation alone.
They cited concerted efforts to tackle regional issues such as Iran’s nuclear programme and the Syria conflict.
“Perhaps, nowhere is our new partnership on more vivid display than in Africa.
“U.S. and France are partnering to combat al-Qaida-linked insurgents in Mali and across the Sahel and stem violence in Central African Republic.’’
It added that the two countries are working to deepen bilateral economic relationship.
France is one of America’s top export markets, and the U.S. is the largest customer for French goods outside the EU, according to the statement.
The trade partnership between the EU and the U.S. would result in more trade, jobs and export opportunities as well as build a lasting foundation to promote the global economic recovery, the statement added.
The two leaders also called for an “ambitious and inclusive’’ global agreement that reduces greenhouse gas emissions through concrete actions.
“The climate summit organised by the UN secretary general this September will give us the opportunity to reaffirm our ambitions for the climate conference in Paris.”
The U.S. and France can do more to help developing countries shift to low-carbon energy and deal with rising seas and more intense storms, wrote the presidents.
