The way out of a diplomatic crisis between France and the US over a mega submarine deal will “take time and require actions”, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told his US counterpart Antony Blinken Thursday. France was incensed to find out
French President Emmanuel Macron and US President Joe Biden spoke on the phone Wednesday amid a diplomatic row over submarine contracts, with France vowing to return its recalled ambassador to Washington next week as part of measures to restore “confidence” between
French officials are adamant they learned that Canberra was ditching a $66 billion French submarine contract only when the first reports began to emerge in the Australian press. But Canberra insists France had long known the deal was on the
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, in New York for UN meetings, called Monday for Europeans to “think hard” about alliances after Paris was outraged by the loss of a mega submarine contract with Australia. “The first issue is the
France canceled meetings with British and Australian officials and is trying to rally EU allies behind its push for more European sovereignty after being humiliated by major Pacific defense pact orchestrated by the U.S. Australia and Britain insisted Monday that the diplomatic
When German Chancellor Angela Merkel leaves office after Germany’s federal election on Sept. 26, all eyes will be on France. Experts believe France sees Merkel’s departure as an opportunity to become even more influential in Europe. French President Emmanuel Macron
France said it will immediately recall its ambassadors to the United States and Australia, in protest of a submarine deal unveiled earlier this week. The move came after French officials in Washington on Thursday canceled a gala at their sprawling
Australia has made a “huge” diplomatic error, the French ambassador said on Saturday having been recalled to Paris after Canberra ditched a multi billion dollar order for French submarines in favour of an alternative deal with the United States and Britain.
Australia had signed a contract with French shipbuilder Naval Group in 2016 to build a new fleet, at a cost of $40 billion, according to Reuters. Both sides had confirmed the deal a couple of weeks ago. However, Canberra has
French maritime officials rescued 126 migrants attempting to cross the Channel to Britain as tensions escalated over record arrivals on England’s southern coast. At least 14,100 people have now crossed the Channel to the UK on small boats this year, according to Britain’s domestic