They seal peace after the oceanic country annulled a multimillion-dollar contract after allying with the United States to use its military technology
French President Emmanuel Macron and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese opened “a new chapter” in the relationship between their two countries this Friday and hoped to be able to leave the so-called submarine crisis behind. The two leaders promised to build “a closer and more solid bilateral relationship, based on trust and mutual respect,” according to a joint statement.
Relations between Paris and Canberra had been badly damaged after the previous Australian government of conservative Scott Morrison unilaterally broke “the contract of the century” for the purchase of French submarines.
Asked by a journalist if he expected an apology from Albanese for what happened, Macron simply said: “Let’s talk about the future, not the past. He is not responsible for what happened.”
Albanese, elected prime minister in May, stressed the importance of the ties that bind the two countries. “Australia’s relationship with France matters. Trust, respect and honesty matter,” said the Labor politician, who recalled that France “is not just a great European power, but a power in the Indo-Pacific and globally.”
The previous Australian Government canceled in September 2021 the contract to buy 12 conventionally powered submarines from France, worth 56,000 million dollars.
Canberra canceled the millionaire contract after reaching an agreement with the United States and the United Kingdom for the creation of Aukus, a strategic military alliance to counter China’s advances in the Indo-Pacific area. This agreement allows him to have access to American technology for the construction of nuclear submarines.
The cancellation of the contract caused a diplomatic crisis. Upset by the breach of the contract without giving them prior notice, Paris recalled its ambassadors to the United States and Australia in protest, an unusual gesture among allies. The Elysée Palace considered that Washington torpedoed the commercial agreement for the purchase of French submarines by Australia.
Three weeks ago, the oceanic country announced that it will compensate the French company Naval Group with 555 million euros for unilaterally breaking the contract for the purchase of French submarines.
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