Macron Says Still Open to Submarine Cooperation With Australia

  • Macron held talks with Australia’s Albanese at G-20 in Bali
  • Australia infuriated France in 2021 by canceling a sub deal
Emmanuel Macron in Bangkok on Nov. 17.Photographer: Ludovic Marin/Pool/AFP/Getty Images
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The French government is still open to revisiting a submarine deal with Australia, President Emmanuel Macron said, despite the dramatic rift between the two countries following Canberra’s decision in 2021 to cancel a billion-dollar military contract.

At a press conference in Bangkok on Thursday, Macron said the option for Australia to build together or purchase French-made submarines remained “on the table,” although he conceded there had been no indication yet from Canberra that it was looking to revisit the deal.