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On 24 January, four days after his investiture, US President Joe Biden had his first official phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron. Commentators were quick to mention that Macron was the fourth leader to have this privilege, and the first one from the EU. The French communiqué mentioned the “historical friendship” between the two countries, while the one published by the White House went as far as referring to France as the United States’ “oldest ally”, a title highly coveted by American partners such as the United Kingdom (especially in a post-Brexit world).
The use of this terminology by the White House was likely a first attempt at restoring some of the damage done during the Donald Trump era. Macron had attempted to develop a personal relationship with his American counterpart, for instance, by regularly inviting him to France. However, while the partnership between the two countries remained somewhat strong during Trump’s presidency, tensions were high