The United States is supporting French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde in her bid to be the next head of the International Monetary Fund.

In a note to journalists Tuesday, U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner cited Lagarde's “exceptional talent and broad experience.”

Geithner also commended her rival for the post, Mexican central bank chief Agustin Carstens for a “strong and credible” candidacy.

The top IMF post is vacant because former Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Khan resigned after being arrested on charges of sexual assault. He denies the allegations.