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In a joint assertion acknowledging less-than-ideal communications within the lead as much as final week’s announcement of the AUKUS defence partnership between Australia, the US and the UK, the White Home and the Elysee mentioned the presidents would meet in Europe on the finish of October.
“The 2 leaders agreed that the scenario would have benefitted from open consultations amongst allies on issues of strategic curiosity to France and our European companions,” the assertion mentioned.
“President Biden conveyed his ongoing dedication in that regard.”
Mr Macron will ship his ambassador, Philippe Etienne, again to Washington subsequent week to start “intensive work with senior US officers”.
Mr Biden additionally reaffirmed the strategic significance of France and the remainder of Europe within the Indo-Pacific, one in all France’s key complaints concerning the dealing with of the pact given its territory of New Caledonia within the space and common naval presence.
“The 2 leaders have determined to open a strategy of in-depth consultations, geared toward creating the situations for guaranteeing confidence and proposing concrete measures towards frequent aims,” the assertion mentioned.
Requested whether or not Mr Biden apologised to his French counterpart, White Home press secretary Jen Psaki mentioned “he acknowledged there might have been better session”.
“He holds himself accountable,” she mentioned.
Early on Thursday morning, the French overseas ministry was but to answer questions from 9News.com.au about whether or not ambassador to Australia Jean-Pierre Thebault could be returning to Canberra.
Each envoys had been referred to as again to Paris within the wake of final week’s AUKUS announcement and Australia’s resolution to scrap the constructing of 12 French diesel-electric submarines and pursue the manufacture of at the least eight US-designed nuclear vessels.
In a quick assertion earlier than their first in-person bilateral assembly on Tuesday, each Mr Biden and Mr Morrison made certain to focus on the significance of “partnerships” with different democracies. Mr Morrison particularly talked about Europe.
However Mr Morrison mentioned there wouldn’t be an opportunity for him to talk with Mr Macron “right now”.
“I am certain that chance will are available time,” he mentioned.
“However proper now, I perceive the frustration, they usually’re working via the consultations with their Ambassador who’s returned to Paris and we will likely be affected person about that.”
Mr Morrison’s solely feedback on the disaster on Wednesday have been that the problems have been “a lot better understood”, following a gathering with European Council President Charles Michel that started with a pointed remark from the previous Belgian Prime Minister concerning the significance of transparency and loyalty.
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