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Scott Morrison unable to secure Macron meeting as relations sour

Courtney GouldNCA NewsWire
The French are threatening to block talks in a major free trade deal. Newswire/Gary Ramage
Camera IconThe French are threatening to block talks in a major free trade deal. Newswire/Gary Ramage Credit: News Corp Australia

Scott Morrison has downplayed claims Australia gave France the cold shoulder after the severing of a major submarine contract soured relations between the two nations.

The prime minister on Tuesday morning touched down in New York ahead of high-level talks with several world leaders.

Speaking on the tarmac at John F Kennedy Airport, Mr Morrison said it would be naive to think the cancellation of the $90bn submarine program wasn’t a difficult decision.

“It would be naive to think a decision of this nature was not going to cause disappointment, obviously, to the French,” Mr Morrison said.

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“I made it very clear a conventional submarine would no longer be meeting our strategic interests and what we needed those boats to do.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison works while on a plane bound for the US. Adam Taylor
Camera IconPrime Minister Scott Morrison works while on a plane bound for the US. Adam Taylor Credit: Supplied

“At the end of the day, you have to do things that are in Australia’s national interest and our security interests.”

Amid claims of deception from the French government, Mr Morrison said it was not possible for France to be informed well ahead of the AUKUS announcement.

The decision to sign a landmark security pact with the UK and US for nuclear powered submarines has caused waves on the world stage.

France is now threatening to derail talks on a planned free trade agreement between Europe and Australia – a deal three years in the making.

While the government claims it handled the situation as best it could, Labor has questioned why the AUKUS deal had to come at the expense of Australia’s relationship with France.

“It’s quite extraordinary that France was visited by our prime minister, face-to-face meeting, not long ago, and no indication it would appear was given to our friends in France,” Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese said.

PRIME MINISTER
Camera IconThe French are threatening to block talks in a major free trade deal. Newswire/Gary Ramage Credit: News Corp Australia

“Friends need to treat each other with respect and the prime minister needs to make sure that he concentrates not just on the announcement, but on the details around announcements as well.”

The White House on Tuesday morning confirmed Mr Biden had requested a meeting between French President Emmanuel Macron in the coming days to smooth over tensions.

“What I expect the President will do on that call is reaffirm our commitment to working with one of our oldest and closest partners on a range of challenges that the global community is facing,” spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.

Asked if he had secured a similar call with Mr Macron, Mr Morrison told reporters it was not possible at this juncture.

“No, there is not an opportunity for that at this time. I’m sure that opportunity will come in time,” he said.

Mr Morrison will meet with Mr Biden early Wednesday morning Australian time in New York prior to the President’s appearance at the United Nations General Assembly.

He is then expected to meet with the NATO secretary Jens Stoltenberg, EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven.

Originally published as Scott Morrison unable to secure Macron meeting as relations sour

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