Relationship dossier
France
United States
Relationship assessment
A durable NATO partnership with substantial defense cooperation and recurring disputes over military and trade policy.
France toward United States
+55France cooperates with the United States through NATO and joined the US-led coalition against ISIS. French opposition to the 2003 Iraq War and its response to the 2021 AUKUS pact illustrate significant disagreements with US policy.
United States toward France
+55The United States cooperates with France through NATO and provided logistical support for French military operations in Mali in 2013. The 2021 AUKUS pact, which displaced a French submarine contract with Australia, prompted a serious diplomatic dispute and France's recall of its ambassador.
Overall relationship
+55The relationship rests on a durable NATO alliance and repeated military cooperation, while remaining marked by occasional sharp disagreements over US-led military policy, defense arrangements and trade. These strains have not displaced the broader partnership.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
France and the United States are longstanding NATO allies with substantial military and diplomatic cooperation, including French participation in the US-led coalition against ISIS and US logistical support for French operations in Mali. Their relationship has also faced significant disputes, notably over the 2003 Iraq War and the 2021 AUKUS submarine pact, which led France to recall its ambassador. Cooperation is durable, but disagreements periodically strain the partnership.
Areas of tension
- France opposed the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.
- The 2021 AUKUS pact displaced a French submarine contract with Australia and triggered a diplomatic dispute.
- Disagreements over trade and digital taxation have periodically strained relations.
Key developments
France joined the US-led international coalition against ISIS.
The United States provided logistical support for French military operations in Mali.
The AUKUS pact was announced, prompting France to recall its ambassador to the United States amid a dispute over the submarine agreement with Australia.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and continuity of intelligence and operational cooperation are unclear.
- The long-term effects of disputes over defense procurement and trade policy are uncertain.