Why Obama Is Rolling Out the Red Carpet for Hollande

François Hollande’s popularity has gone up so much in the United States that it has collapsed in France. Americans have interpreted in a very positive way his determination in managing the intervention in Mali and then in the Central African Republic.

Barack Obama is going all out. He is receiving Hollande for a state visit, a privilege that he has only granted to six leaders since his arrival in the White House, and which turns out to be much more demanding than a simple official visit. The two men must meet on Monday in Monticello, a high place of Franco-American friendship, where President Jefferson resided, one of the first ambassadors to Paris. An abundance of luxury and delicacies is then scheduled for tomorrow night’s dinner at the White House, where tuxedos are obviously a must.

Like his predecessor, Obama has never enjoyed these meetings. He has agreed to them much less than did Ronald Reagan, George Bush, Sr. and Bill Clinton. He has also managed the feat of not having to arrange any for two years: The last state visit was to honor British Prime Minister David Cameron back in March 2012. In addition to depriving [Obama] of dinner with his family, they have the disadvantage of being very formal and costly: in sum, little, old time summits that do not necessarily correspond to 21st century diplomacy. With this state visit, Obama is more so rendering the type of honors we reserve for a diplomatic ally than a friend.

This is because it is not a question of friendship. The two men hardly know each other. Apart from the G-20 and G-8, they have had little opportunity to meet. Moreover, it is neither in Hollande’s character, nor in Obama’s, to pretend to have a close personal relationship — an especially difficult scene as Michelle Obama is deprived of any complicity with a first lady of France. It is thus very far from the picnic, to which George Bush had invited Nicolas Sarkozy in the summer of 2007, at his family residence in Maine. It is also very far from the familiarity — widely fake — with which the same Sarkozy treated Obama from 2009. Hollande also plays the part of head of the French state much more than his predecessor in the tradition. Like Francois Mitterrand and Jacques Chirac, he defends this “gaullienne” attitude, made of respect and sovereignty. “Sarko the American” wanted to be beside President Obama; Hollande prefers to face him. He asserted his independence in May 2012 by announcing the withdrawal of French troops from Afghanistan.

France Has Regained Its Place among Friendly Countries

It is not certain that this displeases Obama. Despite his wide smile, the man has never had a taste for Sarkozy’s friendship. The form should not hide the substance: In fact, the relationship between the two countries has improved a lot in 10 years. As surprising as it may seem, Hollande’s popularity has gone up so much in the U.S. that it has collapsed in France. Americans, especially Republicans, have interpreted in a very positive way his determination in managing the intervention in Mali and then in the Central African Republic. Having been vilified for a long time for its opposition to the war in Iraq, France has thus found its place among friendly countries: those who dare to risk the lives of their soldiers to counter Islamism. It [France] sends its troops even before the U.S. intervenes, which perfectly suits the White House. It is even the heart of its strategy, which diplomats call “leading from behind.”

Of course, the two presidents have had a few snags these last few months. Obama’s willingness to consult Congress before an intervention in Syria, while the French pilots were already prepared to take off, humiliated the Elysee. Hollande even expressed to Time magazine last week that “Everything was ready for the day that we’d chosen.” By blunder more than contempt, Obama has also offended the only European head of state to have brought him unconditional support on the Syrian issue. Moreover, it has not been excluded that the state visit has been planned, above all else, to repair this diplomatic incident.

The Syrian Track Is Far from Being Closed

However, the two presidents retain a lot in common interests. Obama is not unhappy to have a European leader who dares defy German austerity. The French model obviously does not make Americans dream, but Paris retains a strong enough political weight in Europe to promote growth policies — which boost U.S. exports. By the way, the shift of Hollande, who proclaims himself a social democrat and has never talked much about competitiveness, has been rather well-noticed in Washington.

Let there be no mistake, however: The meeting between the two presidents will deal much more with diplomacy than economics. The Syrian track is far from being closed: Because of a calendar date, it must even be reopened today, on the occasion of the second round of negotiations in Geneva between the Syrian regime and opposition. And, in this field, Paris remains Washington’s best ally. British Prime Minister David Cameron is completely paralyzed by his Parliament. As for Angela Merkel, she perpetuates the tradition of a noninterventionist Germany. The number of major powers eager to ensure security in the world has decreased alarmingly. It is for this reason that the White House is so in need of France today.