French-American Relations

"Seldom in the history of our two countries have the shared values between the United States of America and France been so aligned."
President of the Republic Nicolas Sarkozy
Press conference with the President of the United States Barack Obama at the White House, March 30, 2010



President Sarkozy and Obama discuss major subjects (sustainable development, Iran, Afghanistan) during the official visit in the Oval Office of the White House, March 30, 2010.


A deeply rooted commitment to the shared ideals of the French and American Revolutions, the French-American relationship has evolved greatly from the bond established more than two centuries ago. From the fields of the Battle of Yorktown to the beaches of Normandy, the alliance has grown through the years. It is not by happenstance that it was an American and a Frenchman — Eleanor Roosevelt and René Cassin — who together wrote the Universal Declaration of the Rights of Man over 50 years ago.

Today, this commonality of values endures as our nations together confront great challenges. Each time lives and liberties are in jeopardy, each time the values that form the basis of our civilization are threatened, solidarity shines through, as it did when the attacks of September 11 shook the world.

The following documents shed light on the profound and valued relationship between France and the United States.