US Vice President Joe Biden on Monday held talks with French President François Hollande on what he called a “global agenda” of issues, including France's military intervention in Mali, economic matters, conflict in Syria, and Iran's nuclear ambitions.
At a press conference following their lunch, the two hailed the strength of the French-American alliance and expressed broad agreement on the spectrum of complex questions they discussed.
According to Douglas Herbert, FRANCE 24’s international affairs editor, Biden’s visit is significant because “it comes at a time when the US is shifting its emphasis to Asia” -- and away from Europe. Biden’s visit serves as a reminder that “Europe remains America’s oldest, closest ally, and the European-American relationship is sort of the bedrock of global relations”, Herbert noted.
Biden and Hollande also addressed the economy, with the US vice president appearing especially keen to emphasise the stakes of European economic well-being for America.
“Europe is our largest economic partner, so the US has a profound interest in Europe’s success and in Europe securing the foundations of its monetary union,” Biden noted. “It is overwhelmingly in our naked self-interest.”
Biden took the opportunity to urge other European countries to “be more inclined to share our view….that there is nothing inconsistent with getting our long-term debt in control and generating economic growth”.
Read more: Biden hails Hollande’s ‘decisiveness’ on Mali - FRANCE - FRANCE 24
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