American President Joe Biden will host his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron on December 1 in Washington for a state visit, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre announced on Monday, according to AFP, Agerpres reads.

“We work closely with France on a full range of global challenges….including the war in Ukraine,” she said, adding that Biden considers Macron a “close and valued partner.”

Relations between Paris and Washington experienced a major crisis last year when Australia suddenly announced it was abandoning a contract to purchase French conventional submarines in favor of a deal for US nuclear attack submarines.

Agerpres