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Why did France become an ally of Austria despite their long rivalry?

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Seven Years' War: Battle of Zorndorf — Seven Years’ War Frederick II leading his Prussian troops against Russians at the Battle of Zorndorf during the Seven Years' War, August 25, 1758.

The alliance between France and Austria, known as the Diplomatic Revolution, was primarily driven by shifting geopolitical interests and the perceived betrayal of existing alliances following the War of the Austrian Succession.1

The transition occurred due to several key factors:

Prussian Defection: France had traditionally supported Prussia as a counterweight to Austria. However, Prussia’s decision to sign the Convention of Westminster with Great Britain in 1756—an agreement to jointly resist foreign powers in Germany—was viewed by France as a duplicitous act that undermined their own alliance.2
Austrian Realignment: Wenzel Anton von Kaunitz, the Austrian diplomat, concluded that the long-standing alliance with Great Britain was no longer beneficial, particularly as Britain failed to prioritize Austrian interests regarding the recovery of Silesia.12
Mutual Necessity: Faced with the new Anglo-Prussian alignment, France feared isolation. Consequently, France and Austria signed the First Treaty of Versailles in May 1756, a defensive pact that brought the two traditional rivals together to protect their respective interests against the shifting power dynamics in Europe.2