VP Harris in France to repair relationship with America’s oldest ally

Vice President Kamala Harris arrived in France for a four-day trip on Tuesday. The goal of the trip is to continue mending the relationship between the United States and its oldest ally.

“During my visit, I will join leaders at the Paris Peace Forum to address the rising inequality that has been exacerbated by the pandemic,” Vice President Harris said in a statement Monday. “To promote security and stability in cyberspace, I will participate in a high-level meeting on the Paris Agenda for Technology and the Digital Domain. And to demonstrate our strong support for the people of Libya as they plan for elections later this year, I will attend the Paris Conference on Libya.”

One of Harris’ stop Tuesday was at the renowned Institut Pasteur in Paris. She met with American and French scientists working on COVID-19 and pandemic preparedness globally.

“It’s not only a sign of the current state of the relationship and our dedication to the future but it is also an incredible statement about the history of the relationship between France and the United States on many issues, but in particular on scientific research,” Harris said. “Some of the most significant discoveries in science on any issue from rabies to HIV-AIDS, to breast cancer, to mRNA and what we do around vaccines and pandemics have occurred here in collaboration with French scientists, American scientists, scientists around the world coming together.”

Washington’s relationship with Paris hit a historic low earlier this year after a U.S.-British submarine deal with Australia overtook a French contract to sell subs to the Australian navy. In response to the move, French President Emmanuel Macron pulled his ambassador to the United States out of Washington. Macron sent the ambassador back about a week laster. Late last month, President Joe Biden told Macron the U.S. had been “clumsy” in its handling of the issue.

Harris is scheduled to sit down with Macron at the Élysée Palace on Wednesday for talks expected to focus on ways the two nations can better coordinate their efforts in the Indo-Pacific. Harris and Macron are also expected to discuss global health, space and other issues.