France – A difficult Ally

France: The “Oldest and Most Complicated” Ally

France is often referred to as America’s “oldest ally,” a relationship dating back to its crucial support for the American Revolution in 1778.¹ Yet, despite this deep historical bond and shared values of democracy and liberty, there’s a recurring perception—particularly in the United States—that France is not always a good or reliable ally.² This feeling stems not from a failure to cooperate, but from France’s fierce commitment to strategic independence and its history of prioritizing its own national and European interests over American foreign policy consensus.³

This dynamic of cooperation mixed with occasional confrontation has defined the Franco-American relationship for centuries.

The Root of the Tension: Strategic Autonomy

The fundamental reason France is often perceived as a “difficult” partner is its pursuit of “strategic autonomy.” This doctrine is rooted in the country’s post-World War II desire to reclaim its great power status and ensure its security is never wholly dependent on another nation, even a friendly one.⁵

This drive for independence has been most clearly defined by two major actions:

De Gaulle’s NATO Withdrawal (1966):⁶ Under President Charles de Gaulle, France famously withdrew from NATO’s integrated military command structure (though it remained a political member of the alliance).⁷ De Gaulle evicted all foreign troops and NATO bases from French soil, insisting that France develop its own nuclear deterrent (force de frappe). This was a clear message that France would determine its own defense policy and would not automatically submit to American military leadership.⁸
A Truly European Defense: France remains the EU country that most aggressively champions a truly independent European industrial and defense policy.⁹ While cooperating closely with the U.S. and NATO on specific missions (like counterterrorism), French leaders, particularly Emmanuel Macron, have consistently argued that Europe must avoid becoming a “vassal” of the United States, especially given shifts in American politics and foreign policy.¹⁰

High-Profile Disagreements and Diplomatic Splits

While cooperation on trade, intelligence, and culture is robust, the perception of France as a “difficult” ally is reinforced by several key diplomatic splits:

1. The Iraq War Opposition (2003)¹¹

The most significant modern rift occurred when France, led by President Jacques Chirac, vehemently opposed the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.¹² France threatened to use its veto in the UN Security Council against a resolution authorizing military force, effectively blocking international legal consensus for the war.¹³

Consequences: This opposition led to a wave of “Francophobia” in the United States, epitomized by calls to boycott French goods (like wine) and the absurd, temporary renaming of “French fries” to “Freedom fries” in some US government cafeterias.¹⁴ The diplomatic fallout strained the alliance for years.

2. The AUKUS Submarine Debacle (2021)

A recent and painful blow to the French alliance was the AUKUS security pact between the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia.¹⁵ The deal saw Australia abruptly cancel a multi-billion dollar conventional submarine contract with France in favor of acquiring U.S. nuclear-powered submarines.¹⁶

The Snub: France was not consulted and viewed the move as an extraordinary act of betrayal and a diplomatic “stab in the back” by its allies. President Macron temporarily recalled the French ambassador from Washington—a rare and severe diplomatic rebuke—underscoring the feeling that the U.S. prioritizes its own geopolitical interests, even at the expense of its “oldest friend.”¹⁷

Historical Context of Complications

The current tensions are not new; they follow a pattern of cooperation and conflict that extends across centuries:

Historical Point of Friction	Description
Quasi-War (1798–1800)	Shortly after their initial alliance, tensions over U.S. neutrality in the French Revolutionary Wars led to French seizures of American ships, resulting in an undeclared naval war.
The Suez Crisis (1956)	The U.S. and the Soviet Union jointly opposed the invasion of Egypt by the U.K., France, and Israel. France viewed the U.S. action as a humiliation and a clear example of America undermining its core allies to serve its own global agenda.
Vietnam War	De Gaulle’s France openly and vocally criticized American involvement, urging the U.S. to withdraw.

In short, the feeling that France is a “difficult” ally is an unavoidable consequence of its determination to be a great power in its own right—one that reserves the right to disagree with Washington on matters of global order, trade, and military strategy. For France, being a loyal ally doesn’t mean being an obedient one.