U.S., French spat simmers after call

The most significant rift in decades between the U.S. and France seemed on the mend Wednesday after French President Emmanuel Macron and U.S. President Joe Biden got on the phone to smooth things over.

In a half-hour call that the White House described as “friendly,” the two leaders agreed to meet next month to discuss the way forward after the French fiercely objected when the U.S., Australia and Britain announced a new IndoPacific defence deal last week that cost the French a submarine contract worth billions.