French President Emmanuel Macron and former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull are standing on the deck of the Royal Australian Navy’s Collins-class submarine HMAS Waller on May 2, 2018, at Garden Island, Sydney.
Ludwig Marine | Afp | Getty Images
Australia’s new Labor-led government reached a € 555 million ($ 583.58 million) settlement last year over a controversial decision to abandon France’s submarine deal. Canberra hopes to help repair the rift between the two countries.
Last year, Australia canceled a multi-billion dollar submarine order with the French shipyard Naval Group and instead opted for an alternative deal with the United States and the United Kingdom.
This move infuriated Paris and caused an unprecedented diplomatic crisis. It also offended China, a major rising force in the Indo-Pacific region.
Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said at a press conference in Sydney that his government had reached a “fair and impartial” reconciliation with a naval group.
Canbella’s cancellation of an order for a new regular submarine fleet with the Navy Group was worth $ 40 billion in 2016 and is believed to be much higher today, but the previous administration was with the United States and the United Kingdom. After signing a trilateral security partnership.
The trilateral agreement was for a fleet of nuclear submarines equipped with US and British technology. Albanese said the reconciliation could allow Australia to advance its relations with France.
“Given the seriousness of the challenges facing both the region and the world, it is imperative that Australia and France reunite and uphold our common principles and interests,” Albanese said in another statement. ..
Australia, the United States, France, and their partners have all expressed concern about China’s growing influence in the Pacific, a region traditionally under their control. Their concerns grew after China and the Solomon Islands signed a security agreement earlier this year.
“We deeply respect France’s role and active involvement in the Indo-Pacific,” said Albanese. He added that he is looking forward to accepting the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron to visit Paris.
