Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has swooned over French president Emmanuel Macron after landing in Lithuania for the NATO summit – with Australia’s relationship with France appearing to be on the mend.
The Franco-Australian relationship was damaged in 2021 following a decision by the previous coalition government to dump a French submarine contract in favour of acquiring others under a partnership with the UK and US.
Former Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s clandestine decision to scrap the deal cost French naval builders an estimated $5billion.
France temporarily recalled its ambassador from Canberra and Mr Macron told Australian reporters Mr Morrison had lied to him.
But it was all smiles as the two leaders met in Lithuania, with Mr Albanese sharing some glowing words about his French counterpart.
Anthony Albanese is pictured with French president Emmanuel Macron
‘Europe must be open, prosperous and free. And I know there is no stronger advocate for that vision than French President Emmanuel Macron,’ Mr Albanese tweeted.
He revealed that Mr Macron had invited him to visit France earlier in the week but this had not been possible because Mr Albanese was in Germany.
Mr Albanese said he had offered the French president an invitation to visit Australia.
The Prime Minister also met with NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg, thanking him for Australia’s inclusion in the military alliance’s summit.
‘We will be engaged in support of the people of Ukraine for as long as is necessary,’ Mr Albanese said after announcing a day earlier the deployment of an Australian reconnaissance aircraft to Europe amid the conflict.
Joining the summit for the second time since becoming prime minister, Mr Albanese will attend a special meeting on Wednesday alongside Australia’s ‘Indo-Pacific Four’ partners: Japan, South Korea and New Zealand.
Although not a member of NATO, Australia has worked with the alliance since 2005 and been an ‘enhanced opportunities partner’ since 2014.
The prime minister also met his UK counterpart Rishi Sunak, Portuguese leader Antonio Costa and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Tuesday.
Mr Albanese said he hoped to meet on Wednesday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who appeared at the summit on Tuesday.
The Prime Minister also spoke with a bipartisan delegation of US senators who will play a role in passing laws to enable the transfer of Virginia class nuclear-powered submarines to Australia.
Mr Albanese earlier announced the Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail would help protect multinational logistics hubs and allow the free flow of aid but not enter Ukraine airspace.
The aircraft will be deployed for six months and based in Germany.
The deployment will include up to 100 crew and support personnel from Australia.
The prime minister also met his UK counterpart Rishi Sunak, Portuguese leader Antonio Costa and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Tuesday.
Mr Albanese said he hoped to meet on Wednesday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who appeared at the summit on Tuesday.
The Prime Minister also spoke with a bipartisan delegation of US senators who will play a role in passing laws to enable the transfer of Virginia class nuclear-powered submarines to Australia.
However not everyone is impressed with Mr Albanese’s overseas visit.
Veteran broadcaster Alan Jones accused Mr Albanese and Treasurer Jim Chalmers of going missing while thousands of households struggle to make ends meet.
‘I have said for months where is Anthony Albanese and Jim Chalmers in relation to Australia’s cost of living crisis?’ Jones wrote on Facebook on Tuesday.
‘They are both nowhere to be seen.
‘The Prime Minister is too busy shaking the hands of foreign leaders; and the Treasurer never stops whinging about the ‘trillion dollars in Liberal Party debt’.
‘Meanwhile, both young and elderly Australians, households and small businesses are struggling.’
Mr Albanese earlier met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin on Monday to announce Australia will send a surveillance aircraft to Germany to monitor military and humanitarian supplies to Ukraine.
The PM also announced Australia will join the ‘Climate Club’ – an international group that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Last year, Australia committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 43 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030.
It is also aiming to reach net zero emissions by 2050.
Germany is working towards net zero by 2045, setting a preliminary target of an 88 per cent reduction on 1990 levels by 2040.
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said tackling climate change would help Australia improve its trade and business ties with Europe.
‘Germany looks to us as a source for clean energy, clean hydrogen and the like,’ he told Sky News on Tuesday.
‘The opportunity for Australian industry in terms of supporting the energy needs of Germany … is massive.’
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