WASHINGTON (Reuters) – US President Joe Biden spoke to French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday and expressed his desire to strengthen bilateral ties, the White House said, as Biden made the traditional ally one of the first countries he would join during contacted his first term in office.
The White House statement also stated that Biden emphasized his commitment to strengthening transatlantic relations, through NATO and the US partnership with the European Union.
The two leaders also agreed on the need for close coordination, including through multilateral organizations, in addressing common challenges such as climate change, COVID-19 and the global economic recovery, the statement said.
They also agreed to work together on shared foreign policy priorities, including China, the Middle East, Russia, and the Sahel region of West Africa.
Reporting by Patricia Zengerle in Washington; Editing by Peter Cooney and Matthew Lewis