Australian Prime Minister welcomes ‘restart’ in relations with France

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hailed a “fresh start” in relations with France when he met President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Friday after a bitter dispute between the countries over a submarine deal last year.

“My presence here represents a new beginning for our countries’ relations,” said Albanese upon his arrival at the Elysée Palace. “Australia’s relationship with France is important. Trust, respect and honesty are important. This is how I will approach my relationships.”

Macron said Albanese’s recent election and initial talks between the two “show a willingness to rebuild a relationship of trust between our two countries, a relationship based on mutual respect.”

After acknowledging “difficult times,” Macron emphasized the two countries’ strategic partnership, their shared history of wars in Europe and their shared interest in stability in the Pacific region.

The statements, which followed a warm greeting between the two men and their wives in the courtyard of the Presidential Palace, mark a sea change in relations since the departure of former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

Macron was furious last year after Morrison secretly negotiated the purchase of US-designed submarines and then abandoned a landmark A$50 billion submarine deal with France when he announced in 2016 was signed.

France severed diplomatic ties with Australia and Macron repeatedly accused Morrison of lying to him at a dinner in Paris in June 2021.

Outgoing French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian applauded Morrison’s May election defeat by Albanese, saying it “suits me well”.

Morrison’s actions were characterized by “brutality and cynicism, and I would even be tempted to say blatant incompetence,” Le Drian said at the handover to his successor Catherine Colonna on May 21.

Albanese announced earlier this month that French submarine manufacturer Naval Group had agreed to a “fair and equitable settlement” of €555 million ($584 million) for Australia to end the decades-old submarine contract to end.

“It’s important that this reset happens,” Albanese told national broadcaster ABC in a June 24 interview.