US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Paris on Wednesday to receive France's highest honour during what is likely to be his final diplomatic mission before Donald Trump returns to power.
President Emmanuel Macron will award Blinken the Legion of Honour – a particularly meaningful decoration for the fluent French speaker who spent part of his childhood in the French capital.
The honour marks a dramatic improvement in French-American relations since 2021, when Paris was angered by a US-led defence pact with Britain and Australia that cancelled a major French submarine contract.
Improved ties have seen both countries working closely on global challenges including Ukraine and the Middle East.
Before his departure from Washington, Blinken told reporters: "France has been an indispensable partner in advancing our shared values and priorities."
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot will meet Blinken to discuss Syria, where extremist forces toppled Bashar al-Assad's regime last month.
Barrot visited Damascus last week with his German counterpart as Western nations cautiously engage with Syria's new leadership.
"I will work until my final hours in the job for a ceasefire in Gaza," Blinken told AFP, as American and Qatari mediators step up indirect talks between Israel and Hamas.
Sinking of submarine deal leaves Franco-US friendship in tatters
Asia strategy
The Paris visit follows stops in South Korea and Japan, where Blinken focused on reinforcing US partnerships as the region grapples with Chinese expansion and North Korean threats.
The Seoul visit came at a sensitive moment, with South Korea facing political turmoil after President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment.
The State Department said Blinken discussed ways "to build on our critical cooperation on challenges around the world based on our shared values."
In Tokyo, Blinken reviewed recent defence cooperation, including a $3.64 billion US missile sale that China claims will destabilise the region – allegations both Japan and the US reject.
The diplomatic mission comes as Trump prepares to return to the White House on 20 January. The president-elect has not ruled out using military force to take control of Greenland and the Panama Canal.
Before leaving office, Blinken will join President Joe Biden in Rome for meetings with Pope Francis – Biden's final international trip as leader.
(with newswires)
