US President Biden has discussed with his French counterpart Macron the military deal that soured relations between the two countries. Australia surprised France last month by canceling a contract on submarines in favor of a US offer.
“We handled it clumsily,” Biden admitted when meeting Macron in Rome ahead of the G20 summit there. “I was convinced that France had long been informed.” The American president made no apologies.
Macron said the meeting helped restore confidence, though he declined to say the matter has been settled. “It’s like in love: a statement is good, but showing it is better.”
Ambassadors recalled
The US-Australia deal sparked a diplomatic crisis with France, which saw a 5-year-old contract worth €40 billion evaporate. The country felt embarrassed when Australia suddenly chose American nuclear submarines over the less advanced French vessels.
According to Australia, a defense pact with the US could better counter China’s ambitions in the region. In addition, the contract had been properly terminated according to the conditions, the country underlined.
Nevertheless, France ferociously withdrew its ambassadors from Australia and USA and even compared the move to the selfish foreign policy of Biden’s predecessor Trump. “Allies don’t do this,” fulminated foreign minister Le Drian.
French missions
To appease the French, the meeting with Macron was held yesterday at the French embassy in the Vatican. At the same time, Jill Biden hosted Macron’s wife Brigitte for dinner at a Roman restaurant.
The encounters thus largely took the cold out of the air. “We have clarified what needed to be clarified,” Macron concluded. “What matters now is how we work together in the coming weeks, months and years.” Macron also thanked Biden for pledges to help French missions in Africa.
Communion Biden
Visiting Rome, Biden, a professed Catholic, met Pope Francis earlier in the day, his first as sitting president. The two discussed, among other things, the upcoming climate summit, poverty reduction and the corona pandemic.
Footage from the audience showed that the two were friendly with each other. The visit took longer than planned: Biden’s later appointments all had to be postponed for an hour.
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