France and Germany have the manufacturing and skill base which is useful to us. France is our dependable strategic partner.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
France has a very important relationship with Germany. But that does not mean that we agree about everything or that two of our universities or companies are not going to compete.
The transatlantic relationship is vital for both our countries: France will remain a reliable ally of the United States. Nevertheless, ally does not mean aligned.
So Europe needs to be competitive and we also need to be competitive if we wish to remain an interesting economic partner for the United States. This has to be done on the basis of strength, of competitiveness.
I want France to become the European hub for R&D.
Europe has the technology, the strategic and economic might to defend itself.
As for the role of France and Germany: French politics is often more self-confident then German politics due to the catastrophe in the first half of the last century. If Berlin and Paris don't agree, then it is difficult to make progress in Europe.
Is France a northern European export powerhouse, or a Mediterranean indebted and dependent economy? Yes to both.
Germany's strength lies largely in the fact that the Federal Republic is a center of industry and that it's an export nation.
We have a complicated intelligence relationship with France. We have a complicated intelligence relationship with other - with other allies.
Being and working in America, it's very important to work hard, work smart and work in a certain way. France and Europe has, with the tradition and culture, it's slow-moving and it's not always good.