WASHINGTON (Reuters] – The U.S. President Joe Biden met with French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss security cooperation for Africa, Europe, and the Indo-Pacific. This is as they try to repair the rift that erupted over a U.S.-Australia security pact.

Biden and Macron intend to continue their conversations when they meet next month in Rome, at a summit of leaders of Group of 20 major economies.

Vice President Kamala Harris also will meet with Macron during a visit to Paris in November, the White House said, underscoring efforts to repair ties between the United States and France after Australia scrapped https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australian-pm-says-he-made-clear-france-possibility-scrapping-submarine-deal-2021-09-17 a French submarine contract in favor of a pact with Washington and London last month.

This follows a U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s Paris trip earlier in the month. He said that he had “very productive, positive” conversations with French leaders.

U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai met also with Franck Riester her French counterpart on Friday at a Group of Seven minister conference. She stressed U.S. support for “strengthening bilateral relations with France” in a statement.

Biden spoke with Macron about ongoing efforts of both countries to secure stability in the Sahel and Indo-Pacific and enhance their cooperation. The White House also stated that they are working together to make Europe more defense-oriented.

It said that President Biden was looking forward to meeting President Macron in Rome this month. There they will continue their conversation, review the various areas of U.S.–France cooperation and strengthen our common interests and shared values, as we face challenges and opportunity together.

Harris will be meeting Macron in Paris, where she will deliver a speech on the fourth annual Paris Peace Forum on November 11, and take part in the Paris Conference on Libya on November 12, according to Symone Sanders (her spokesperson).