France and the U.S. have a long and storied history as allies in various conflicts. The present is no exception as France and the U.S. are united in the fight against terrorism.

His Excellency Gérard Araud, a career diplomat, was appointed French ambassador to the U.S. in September 2014. Araud previously held numerous positions within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development, notably including permanent representative of France to the UN in New York (2009–14), director general for political affairs and security (2006–09), ambassador to Israel (2003–06), and director for strategic affairs, security, and disarmament (2000–03). He was the French negotiator on the Iranian nuclear issue (2006–09). In New York, at the Security Council, he notably contributed to the adoption of resolutions on Libya (#1970 and #1973), Côte d’Ivoire (#1975), the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali and the Central African Republic, and participated in debates on the Syrian and Ukrainian crises. His numerous journal articles include two on the outbreak of WWI, one on French foreign policy between 1919 and 1939 (in Commentaire), and one on the search for a new world order (in Esprit). Araud is working on an article on the treaty of Versailles.