Extract from ABC News
French President Emmanuel Macron has told Prime Minister Scott Morrison that he broke the trust between their two countries and that it is up to Canberra to repair relations.
Key points:
- Mr Macron told the PM that Australia's AUKUS announcement broke the trust between France and Australia
- He says it will be up to Australia to set the terms for repairing the relationship
- The French President also ased Mr Morrison to step up action on climate change and halt coal mining
It was the first phone call between the two leaders since Australia announced it would scrap a $90 billion contract for French submarines in favour of nuclear-powered submarines as part of the AUKUS agreement.
Mr Macron told Mr Morrison that Australia's decision to halt the submarine project created uncertainty for French and Australian businesses.
"President Macron recalled that Australia's unilateral decision to scale back the French-Australian strategic partnership by putting an end to the ocean-class submarine programme in favour of another as-yet unspecified project broke the relationship of trust between our two countries," the Elysee said.
"The situation of the French businesses and their subcontractors, including Australian companies, affected by this decision will be given our utmost attention.
"It is now up to the Australian Government to propose tangible actions that embody the political will of Australia's highest authorities to redefine the basis of our bilateral relationship and continue joint action in the Indo-Pacific."
In the call, which came ahead of a UN climate change summit, Mr Macron also urged Mr Morrison to commit to halting coal mining and the use of coal for power production.
"The President of the
French Republic encouraged the Australian Prime Minister to adopt
ambitious measures commensurate with the climate challenge, in
particular the ratcheting up of the nationally determined contribution,
the commitment to cease production and consumption of coal at the
national level and abroad, and greater Australian support to the
International Solar Alliance."
The Prime Minister's Office said
Mr Morrison was pleased to be able to speak with the French President
after writing him a letter earlier this month.
"They had a candid discussion on the bilateral relationship," it said.
"The Prime Minister looks forward to future collaborations on our shared interests, particularly in the Indo-Pacific."
Mr Morrison "also took the opportunity to inform the President about Australia's commitment to deliver net zero emissions by 2050".
Call comes after weeks of frosty relations
The AUKUS pact between Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom caused a diplomatic rift with France.
Last month, Mr Morrison said he had tried to speak with the French President but Mr Macron would not take his call.
France recalled its ambassadors from both Australia and the US shortly after the shock announcement, saying they were "cheated" and "deceived".
Both ambassadors have now returned to their diplomatic posts.
The ambassador to Australia, Jean-Pierre Thebault, called Australia's move "a stab in the back" at the time.
"I think this has been a huge mistake, a very, very bad handling of the partnership — because it wasn't a contract, it was a partnership that was supposed to be based on trust, mutual understanding and sincerity," Mr Thebault said shortly before leaving Australia.
"I would like to run into a time machine, if possible, and be in a situation where we don't end up in such an incredible, clumsy, inadequate unAustralian situation."
The AUKUS deal is widely seen as an attempt to counter China's growing presence in the region.
The pact has also worried Australia's South-East Asian nations, who fear it could rachet up tensions or contribute to an arms race.
On Wednesday Mr Morrison sought to quell those concerns during an address at a virtual ASEAN summit.
"I want to address this upfront, because transparency and communication on this important initiative is important to Australia, with our ASEAN friends," he said.
"AUKUS does not change Australia's commitment to ASEAN or the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. Indeed, it reinforces it. It reinforces the backing that we have for an ASEAN-led regional architecture.
"AUKUS adds to our network of partnerships that support regional stability and security."
ABC/Reuters
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