Towards a return to peaceful diplomatic relations between France and Australia?

Emmanuel Macron meets the new Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Friday July 1 to repair bilateral relations degraded by the submarine crisis between the two countries last fall.

The talks at the Élysée Palace, which will take place from 1:15 p.m. (11:15 GMT), are the first official meeting between the two leaders since the inauguration of Anthony Albanese at the end of May.

Relations between the two countries have been at an all-time low since Canberra canceled a massive €56 billion contract for 12 submarines in favor of nuclear-powered vessels under the so-called deal. "Aukus" with the United States.

In September 2021, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison suddenly terminated the French contract in preparation for ten years, arousing the ire of Paris.

President Emmanuel Macron then accused the Australian Prime Minister of deception.

Emmanuel Macron and Anthony Albanese spoke on the phone in May after the change of government in Australia following the legislative elections and exchanged this week on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Madrid.

"We are going to re-start things. First there is a Prime Minister whose agenda is much more consistent with the agenda of France", underlined the French president Thursday during a press conference during this summit, citing the fight against climate change and the attitude towards Chinese ambitions in the Indo-Pacific region.

"I approach this exchange with great optimism and determination because Australia are a great partner and the situation inherited from past bad manners was not a good situation."

"Great opportunity" for reconciliation

"I expect a lot from my visit to Paris", assured Wednesday Anthony Albanese, who declared himself in favor of a "reset" of relations with France, both "at the center of power in Europe" and "essential power in the Pacific".

Australia's new prime minister on June 11 announced a €555 million compensation deal with French submarine maker Naval Group for the canceled submarine contract.

In total, the failure of this contract will have cost 2.4 billion dollars to Australian taxpayers, according to Anthony Albanese.

Scott Morrison's predecessor, Malcolm Turnbull, called the visit a "great opportunity" to seal reconciliation between the two countries, saying a key step would be "to re-engage at a very constructive level" after months of rift.

"We are facing real challenges from China in the Pacific," he said during a meeting with journalists organized this week by the Institut Montaigne in Paris.

>> To read also: "In the case of the submarines, France pays a policy 'too soft' vis-a-vis China"

"We are committed, like France, to a free and open Indo-Pacific," continued Malcolm Turnbull, citing concerns expressed by the United States, Australia and France over the "security framework agreement". between China and the Solomon Islands announced in April.

Canberra and Washington fear that China will manage to build a naval base in the South Pacific that would allow it to project its maritime power far beyond its borders.

With AFP

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