US heads to France to repair ties after Australia scraps submarine deal

The administration has been scrambling to mend fences with France and the European Union more broadly since the announcement on September 15 of the Australia-US-UK agreement, known as AUKUS, which cancelled a multibillion-dollar Australian-France submarine deal.

All sides agree it will take time to repair those ties.

“We recognise this will take time and it will take hard work,” said Karen Donfried, newly confirmed as the leading US diplomat for Europe.

Other matters to be discussed will include “the climate crisis, economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, the transatlantic relationship, and working with our allies and partners to address global challenges and opportunities”, the state department said.