Blinken to visit France after Biden ‘stabbed it in the back’

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit France next week after Paris accused Joe Biden of stabbing it in the back and after the Biden administration pushed Paris aside and signed a lucrative multi-billion nuclear deal with Australia for submarines.

The US State Department said on Friday the Biden administration will try to smooth over hurt feelings and potentially more lasting damage caused by its exclusion of America’s oldest ally from the deal, The Associated Press reported.

The department said Blinken will visit Paris starting on Monday for an international economic conference but stressed that he will also meet with French officials in an attempt to improve ties.

The State Department said Blinken's talks will be aimed at “further strengthening the vital U.S.-France relationship on a range of issues including security in the Indo-Pacific region."

“We recognize this will take time and it will take hard work,” said Karen Donfried, the newly confirmed top US diplomat for Europe.

Other matters to be discussed will include "the climate crisis, economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Transatlantic relationship, and working with our Allies and partners to address global challenges and opportunities,” the department said.

SS