France to send ambassador back to Australia amid Aukus row

 

 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.

Last month, 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.

Paris called the deal a "stab in the back".

Soon after 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.

Source BBC