Desk Report
Published: 07 Oct 2021, 01:25 pm
Scott Morrison (right) did not warn Emmanuel Macron of Australia's plans during a meeting in June || Photo: Collected
France will send its ambassador back to Australia to
"redefine" relations after Canberra reneged on a deal to buy French
submarines and sparked a row.
Last month, Australia formed the Aukus security pact with the
US and the UK - aimed at maintaining Western influence in the Asia-Pacific.
That saw Australia end a $65bn (£48bn) deal with France to
instead access US nuclear-powered submarine technology.
Paris called the deal a "stab in the back".
Soon after the shock announcement, France recalled its
ambassadors from Canberra and Washington DC in protest.
But while it has sought to mend the rift with the US, France
has continued to freeze out Australia.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said French
President Emmanuel Macron has refused to take his calls. Australia's trade
minister has also been shunned by his French counterpart.
Last week, negotiations over an Australia-EU trade deal were
also pushed back, in what was widely interpreted as a result of the row.
French officials have said they were blindsided by Canberra,
which had maintained talks about the French submarines while working to secure
an alternative deal.
France's contract to build a fleet of conventionally powered
submarines for Australia, dating to 2016, was to be a key part of France's
regional engagement.
Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Wednesday that
while his country would "start afresh" with Australian relations, it
would "not have an impact in our determination to remain engaged in the
Pacific".
The returning ambassador to Australia would also "defend
our interests" over the scrapped submarine contract.
Canberra has already spent over $900m on the French programme
and is expected to pay a minimum $288m exit fee for breaking the contract.
Australia has said it understands France's "deep
disappointment".
"Australia values its relationship with France, which is
an important partner and a vital contributor to stability, particularly in the
Indo-Pacific. This will not change," Australian Foreign Minister Marise
Payne said last month.
Aukus is widely seen as a response to the growing power of China. (BBC)