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Paris — French President Emmanuel Macron told Australia's new Prime Minister Anthony Albanese that he would like to focus on the future as he seeks to rebuild a terribly tense relationship with his predecessor's decision to revoke his submarine contract with Paris. ..
Relations between the two Western allies last October when Australia canceled the multi-billion dollar French submarine program and instead chose to build submarines with US and British technology. Reached the lowest.
The two who received the Albaniji at the Elysee Palace in Paris were asked if Australia should apologize.
"He is not responsible for what happened," Macron replied. "We're talking about the future, not the past."
The decision to break a lucrative contract infuriated Paris.
Macron responded to anger, recalling the French ambassador to Australia, accusing then-Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison of lying, and French Foreign Minister Canberra said. I stabbed my ally from behind. "
However, Morrison's party lost the election in May, and his Labor successor promised to rebuild relations with France.
In a statement at the French Presidential Palace, Albanigi thanked Macron for his warm welcome and seemed to hint at the controversy over "the issue of trust, respect and integrity."
With one million citizens living in a territory that straddles the Indian Ocean and the Pacific, and 8,000 troops stationed there, Paris is the basis of Australia's Indo-Pacific strategy to counter the rise of China. Did.
France has supplied India and Indonesia with fighters, especially to build military relations with countries in the region.
On Friday, Macron said the two would discuss "new projects" in terms of renewable energy, critical metals, space, and poles, as well as defense and strategic issues. Antarctic. (Additional report by Benoit Van Overstraeten; edited by Dominique Vidalon and Angus MacSwan)
