The leaders of France and Australia are trying to resolve the breakdown in their relationship. They want to improve relations after the defense pact is broken. Now they call it “a new chapter”.
French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed new Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to Paris on Friday.
Albanese told reporters that Australia’s relationship with France was important and that trust, respect and honesty were important. He also said that this is how he approaches his relationships.
Macron said he and the Albanians would talk about the future, not the past. He said the current prime minister was not responsible for the deterioration of bilateral relations.
Last year, the administration of former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison canceled a multi-billion dollar deal to buy diesel-powered submarines from France.
Instead, officials brokered a deal with the United States for nuclear-powered submarines.
French leaders accused them of “stabbing them in the back” and temporarily withdrew ambassadors from both countries.
Albanese announced last month that the two sides had agreed to a settlement worth more than $580 million. He and Macron pledged to cooperate on the Indo-Pacific strategy – and “all the challenges facing the region”.
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