France and the US have made efforts to end a row which started last week with the announcement of a defence pact between the US, UK and Australia.
The Aukus pact cost France a submarine contract worth billions of dollars.
In a 30-minute phone call on Wednesday, the French and US presidents agreed to try to find a way forward.
The US acknowledged that the situation would have benefited from "open consultations", and France agreed to send its ambassador back to Washington.