It helps to understand France’s position in the United Nations and its place in the world.

France was a charter member of the United Nations and holds a permanent seat in the UN Security Council.

It is major power in Western Europe due to its size, strong economy, strong military power and energetic diplomacy.

See also

• France and German Relations
• French and United Kingdom Relations

French and German cooperation became the foundation of efforts to enhance security in the European Union.

France cooperates very closely with both Germany and Spain; however, its relations with the United Kingdom are more strained.

Beginning in the 20th Century, a policy of cordial agreement was established and the UK and France became political allies, despite occasional tensions between the two countries.

For example, there was the French perception that the British abandoned the French in 1940 and the perception among several in Great Britain that France wrongly opposed the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Despite these tensions, they remain allies to the present day.

A chronic point of contention between the two countries has been the future of the European Union. Under French president Charles de Gaulle, France opposed the UK joining the European Economic Community or the EU. De Gaulle made the argument that the UK had extensive alliances outside Europe, especially with the US and was suspicious of other European countries.

After the UK joined the EU, Margaret Thatcher argued for and won a reduction of the UK’s contributions to the EU budget. An alliance between the two countries exists despite mutual skepticism of the other’s economic policies.