Australian PM To Reset Strained Ties With France Over Submarine Row

Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese will visit Paris to reset relations with France after tensions erupted over a scrapped submarine deal.

Australia cancelled a multi-billion dollar contract with a French firm to build the submarines in 2021.

It instead signed a new defence pact with the US and the UK, infuriating French president Emmanuel Macron.

He accused then leader Scott Morrison of lying to him and briefly recalled France’s ambassador in protest.

Albanese who was elected in May will travel to Madrid next week for the NATO summit where he will make a detour to Paris to smooth over ties.

Albanese described the relationship as key because France is not only a central power in Europe but in the pacific like Australia.