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- US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron have spoken for the first time since the AUKUS pact announcement
- The phone call lasted 30 minutes, with both leaders agreeing to launch in-depth consultations to rebuild trust and meet in Europe at the end of October
- In the meeting France agreed to send its ambassador back to Washington
- Prime Minister Scott Morrison says he will mend relations in the “weeks and months ahead”, adding the current UN meeting is not the right time
The US and French presidents have spoken for the first time since the AUKUS deal was announced.
The AUKUS pact saw Australia ditch its $90 billion submarine deal for nuclear technology vessels with the UK and US.
France did not take the news lightly, scrapping a meeting with the UK and recalling its ambassadors from Washington and Canberra.
However, US President Joe Biden wanted to mend fences and phoned French President Emmanuel Macron.
The call went for 30 minutes, with both leaders agreeing to meet in Europe at the end of October and launch in-depth consultations to rebuild trust.
In the meeting France agreed to send its ambassador back to Washington.
The joint US and French statement said: “The two leaders agreed that the situation would have benefited from open consultations among allies on matters of strategic interest to France and our European partners.
“President Biden conveyed his ongoing commitment in that regard.”
White House spokesperson Jen Psaki said the meeting was friendly, with both parties wanting to improve ties.
“The president has had a friendly phone call with the president of France where they agreed to meet in October and continue close consultations and work together on a range of issues,” she told reporters.
Meanwhile Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he would mend relations in the “weeks and months ahead” and said the current UN meeting was not the right time for such discussions.
