France sending envoy back to Australia to ‘redefine relationship’ after Aukus submarine dispute

France had accused its allies of stabbing it in the back after Australia abandoned a multibillion-dollar defence contract for a deal with the US and Britain

The ambassador will return to Canberra to ‘defend French interests’, Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told a parliamentary hearing

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A ferry passes the Royal Australian Navy's Collins-class submarine HMAS Waller as it leaves Sydney Harbour in May 2020. Photo: Reuters

Published: 6:53am, 7 Oct 2021Updated: 12:26pm, 7 Oct 2021

Government ministers in Canberra on Thursday welcomed France’s decision to return its ambassador to Australia, saying they hoped the two nations could repair the damage after falling out over a cancelled submarine contract.

“We welcome back the French ambassador to Canberra, and hopefully we can move beyond our recent disappointments,” Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, deputy leader of the ruling conservative Liberal Party, told Nine Network TV.

France recalled its ambassadors from Washington and Canberra last month after Australia axed a A$90 billion (US$66 billion) contract with majority French state-owned Naval Group to build 12 conventional diesel-electric submarines.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (right) attends a meeting with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian (left) in Paris on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

Under an alliance that includes the United States and Britain, Australia will instead acquire a fleet of eight nuclear-powered submarines built with US technology.

France quickly returned its ambassador to the US, a Nato partner.

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