-
France sends ambassador back to Australia to 'redefine' relations

The BBC reported, France will send its ambassador back to Australia to "redefine" relations, after Canberra reneged on a deal to buy French submarines and sparked a row.
In last September, Australia formed the Aukus security pact with the US and the UK - aimed at maintaining Western influence in the Asia-Pacific.
That saw Australia end a $65bn (£48bn) deal with France to instead access US nuclear-powered submarine technology.
According to the BBC, Paris called the deal a "stab in the back".
Following the shock announcement, France recalled its ambassadors from Canberra and Washington DC in protest.

But while it has sought to mend the rift with the US, France has continued to freeze out Australia.
Read more: Germany’s FDP and Green party want to start coalition talks with SPD
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said French President Emmanuel Macron has refused to take his calls. Australia's trade minister has also been shunned by his French counterpart.
Last week, negotiations over an Australia-EU trade deal were also pushed back, in what was widely interpreted as a result of the row.
French officials have said they were blindsided by Canberra, which had maintained talks about the French submarines while working to secure an alternative deal.
France's contract to build a fleet of conventionally powered submarines for Australia, dating to 2016, was to be a key part of France's regional engagement.
Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Wednesday that while his country would "start afresh" with Australian relations, it would "not have an impact in our determination to remain engaged in the Pacific".
Read more: US senators call on Joe Biden to expel Russian diplomats over visas issue
The returning ambassador to Australia would also "defend our interests" over the scrapped submarine contract.
Canberra has already spent over $900m on the French programme and is expected to pay a minimum $288m exit fee for breaking the contract.
Australia has said it understands France's "deep disappointment".
"Australia values its relationship with France, which is an important partner and a vital contributor to stability, particularly in the Indo-Pacific. This will not change," Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said last month.
The BBC said, Aukus is widely seen as a response to the growing power of China.
Source: BBC
You May Also Like
Popular Posts
Caricature
BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
opinion
Report
ads
Newsletter
Subscribe to our mailing list to get the new updates!