Three Rifts, Two Reconciliations: Franco-American Relations During the Fifth Republic

There is a widespread view that Franco-American relations have been consistently difficult at least since the presidency of Charles de Gaulle, but not so difficult as to prevent the two countries from joining together in times of crisis. However, after having simmered for years, the current Franco-American rift, as opposed to the recurrent tensions of the Cold War period, is most probably a lasting reality with no real reconciliation in view. This new lasting rifts has occurred for four reasons. The first is that the French have recently experienced a sea change in their view of international relations: they no longer see their interest lying in close bilateral Franco-American cooperation, even on terms favourable to France. The second and third relate to French geopolitical interests and ideology, while the last involves the institutional evolution of French political life. There is as of now no possible domestic political arrangement, either on the left or on the right, for a real re-founding of Franco-American and Franco-Atlantic relations. In short, changes in France's international position, in the French self-conception, and in domestic political arrangements all tend to undermine deeper transatlantic cooperation and necessitate a reformulation of the balance between Europe and America.