Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is due to travel to Paris to “reset” relations with France following a dispute over a canceled submarine deal.
Australia has canceled a multi-billion dollar contract with a French company to build a submarine in 2021.
It instead signed a new defence pact with the US and the UK, infuriating French President Emmanuel Macron.
Macron also accused then-leader Scott Morrison of lying to him.
But Mr. Albanese, who was elected in May, is due to travel to Madrid next week for a NATO summit and then to Paris to mediate relations.
“France is a central power not only in Europe but also in the Pacific Ocean,” he said.
Australia earlier this month announced a €555m ($584m; £476m) settlement with France’s Naval Group as compensation for scrapping the contract in favour of the Aukus deal. (colombotimes.lk)
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