Australia’s new PM vows to reset relations with France after submarine row

• Australia cancelled a multibillion dollar submarine construction contract with a French company.
• France was furious that it chose to sign a new defence agreement with the US and the UK instead.
• Australian PM Anthony Albanese will travel to Paris to mend fences.

After tensions over a cancelled submarine agreement erupted, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will travel to Paris to “reset” relations with France.

Australia cancelled a multibillion dollar submarine construction contract with a French company in 2021.

Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, was furious that it chose to sign a new defence agreement with the US and the UK.

He accused the country’s then-leader Scott Morrison of lying to him, prompting a quick protest from France’s envoy.

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The week after next, Mr. Albanese, who was elected in May, will go to Madrid for the NATO meeting. He’ll take a side trip to Paris to mend fences.

He told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that a reset was crucial.

According to him, the relationship is crucial since France, like Australia, is a central force not just in Europe but also in the Pacific.

“We’ve already had some really positive conversations… The visit the next week is a very tangible indication of the already completed repair, “added he.

In order to make up for cancelling the contract in favour of the Aukus agreement, Australia earlier this month reached a settlement with France’s Naval Group for €555 million ($584 million; £476 million).

Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, has also extended an invitation to Mr. Albanese to travel there while in Europe.

Before making a decision, he stated that his delegation was seeking national security advice because “we don’t want to create a situation where there is risk to Australian personnel by performing such a visit.”

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