The President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron and the new Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese want to "rebuild a relationship" of "trust", after the diplomatic crisis linked to the termination of a mega-contract for French submarines, the Elysée said on Thursday. in a press release.

"After noting the deep breach of trust that followed former Prime Minister Scott Morrison's decision to end the future submarine program" eight months ago, Emmanuel Macron and Anthony Albanese, who spoke on the phone on Thursday, "agreed to rebuild a bilateral relationship based on trust and respect, to jointly overcome global challenges, first and foremost the climate emergency, and the strategic challenges in the Indo-Pacific", specified the 'Elysium.

"A roadmap will be prepared to structure this new bilateral agenda, by identifying strategic cooperation between our two countries with the aim of strengthening our resilience and contributing to regional peace and security," the statement added.

Up to 3.7 billion euros to end the agreement with France

Labor Anthony Albanese, 59, was sworn in as Prime Minister of Australia on Monday, following his party's victory in the legislative elections on Saturday.

The defeat of Scott Morrison in the legislative elections "suits me very well", immediately declared the outgoing French Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian.

Canberra had provoked a masterful quarrel last September with Paris by denouncing a contract for the sale of French submarines to the Australian navy for more than 50 billion euros, preferring them Anglo-American nuclear-powered submarines, whose French buildings were not provided.

To mark its anger, France had recalled its ambassador to the United States, an unprecedented act vis-à-vis this historic ally, as well as that in Australia, the country at the origin of the crisis.

In early April, Australian authorities admitted that Canberra would have to pay up to 5.5 billion Australian dollars (3.7 billion euros) to end the agreement with France.

World

Legislative in Australia: The defeat of Prime Minister Scott Morrison "suits Jean-Yves Le Drian very well"

  • Australia

  • Emmanuel Macron

  • Submarine

  • Diplomacy