Abstract:

U.S.-French relations suffer from a lack of mutual trust based on two centuries of difficult history. In addition, U.S-French security interests do not coincide. Although both nations believe in the importance of playing an active role in global security and cooperate effectively in specific cases like Kosovo, their long term goals are different. The United States wishes to perpetuate an Atlanticist security system; France advocates greater European independence. No solution to the debate over ESDI will occur without a breakthrough in U.S.-French relations, but past experience indicates that no such breakthrough is likely to take place. The future of U.S.-French relations will probably resemble the past, conflict over doctrine, cooperation over concrete issues.


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