• France and Australia engaged in a very public spat after Australia pulled out of a multi-billion dollar defense deal.
• The deal would have seen France provide them with nuclear-powered submarines.
• Comments by Sebastien Lecornu come after Australia said they will pay French defense contractor Naval Group a $584 million settlement.

Following a failed submarine agreement that resulted in a breach of relations between the two countries; France’s defence minister said on Saturday that the country sought to repair its relationship with Australia.
Sebastien Lecornu’s remarks came after Australia announced; that it will pay a $584 million settlement to French defence contractor Naval Group; after cancelling a contract that had been in place since 2016.

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“At his request, I will meet with the incoming Australian government’s Defense Minister,” Lecornu stated in a message on Twitter. “Our geography and history are intertwined… We must look to the future and create new foundations for cooperation.”
In September 2021, France and Australia had a public fight; after Australia rejected a multi-billion dollar defence deal in which France; that would have provided them with nuclear-powered submarines in favour of a deal with the US and the UK.

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