Éric Ciotti received the United States Ambassador to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Independence

On Tuesday, May 19, a meeting took place between Charles Kushner, Ambassador of the United States to France and Éric Ciotti, Mayor of Nice. This year the city of Nice decided to celebrate the 250th anniversary of American Independence. Several events linked to this celebration will therefore punctuate the agenda of Nice residents throughout the year.

In a difficult geopolitical context, the ceremony organized in Nice made it possible to recall the decisive role played by France in the birth of the United States and testifies to the privileged ties uniting Nice with the USA, as the year 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, signed on July 4, 1776. At the end of the 18th century, France provided the insurgents with decisive military, financial and diplomatic aid.

The speeches of Éric Ciotti and Ambassador Charles Kushner

During his reception at Villa Masséna, the Mayor of Nice welcomed the presence of the United States Ambassador by highlighting the strength of local ties. “Only a few years after American independence, Thomas Jefferson was already staying here, in Nice,” he recalled, noting that the former president contributed to making Nice’s terroir known across the Atlantic.

Eric Ciotti also stated that the attractiveness of the Côte d’Azur for American artists, combined with current partnerships and economic exchanges, “extends this singular relationship from one shore of the Atlantic to the other.”

Finally, he declared that this friendship had also been forged in pain, citing the tribute to American victims of the attack of July 14, 2016. For the Mayor, this bond is the symbol of an unbreakable alliance: “General de Gaulle said there is a pact twenty centuries old between the greatness of France and the freedom of the world. Allow me to take up these words to say that there is a pact twenty centuries old between Franco-American friendship and the freedom of the world,” he concluded.

Following this, the United States Ambassador responded to this welcome by stating that this meeting transcends a simple anniversary to “celebrate and honor an idea.” He recalled that the United States was born 250 years ago, “not in comfort but in conviction,” that freedom is a gift and that governments must serve peoples.

The diplomat then emphasized France’s crucial role: “France has stood by the side of the United States of America since their very first breath,” he declared with emotion. He stressed that French soldiers shed their blood for this cause and that French ideals, carried by figures like Lafayette, were the builders of American independence.

In conclusion, he expressed the wish that this bond, forged in sacrifice, endure forever: “may our friendship last eternally,” he proclaimed before the assembly.

A rich program for 2026

To accompany this historic anniversary, the city has created a rich cultural, historical and educational program that will extend throughout the year:

• June 5-9: American Film Festival (Nice Film Library)
• July 4: Independence Day Celebration
• July-August: Open-air cinema: Tribute to Grace Kelly
• September: The Riviera and the Americans (high schools and cinemas)
• November 27: Thanksgiving (school cafeterias)
• December 4: closing of celebrations

A tense geopolitical context

This celebration of friendship comes, however, in a complex diplomatic climate, where France regularly reaffirms its “strategic autonomy.” While cooperation remains solid on matters such as Ukraine or the fight against terrorism, friction has recently appeared, particularly on the Middle East issue. Paris has thus assumed its own line by claiming its right to say “no” to the United States, particularly regarding military overflights to Israel. This partnership, although described as unbreakable by both parties in Nice, is also marked by more direct tensions, such as allegations by the American ambassador about antisemitism in France, perceived by some as interference in the national public debate. Despite these occasional disagreements, dialogue remains constant, with the ambassador himself ensuring that he wants to preserve the serenity of bilateral exchanges in the face of global challenges.

This meeting between Éric Ciotti and Charles Kushner at Villa Masséna thus reaffirms the historical anchoring of Franco-American friendship at the local level, despite a diplomatic context marked by sovereignty issues. By combining solemn speeches on democratic values and cultural programming throughout the year, the city of Nice intends to mark this 250th anniversary by maintaining constant dialogue between the two shores of the Atlantic.