[balabaster]

and equally... every other "friend" and "ally" are as strong as France. It's meaningless filler, it doesn't mean that the French are their strongest friends and allies... just that nobody is more of a friend and ally. It's like a hat tip to one of your friends, but nothing more. Even if you do take this statement literally, it's meaningless.

[ptaipale]

I don't think it's entirely meaningless. As said, it intends to be polite. Its meaning just isn't the face value.