French President Macron stands by criticism of Scott Morrison ditching submarine contract

Emmanuel Macron has doubled down on criticism of Scott Morrison for dumping the contract for French submarines in favour of a deal on nuclear-powered submarines with the US and UK, saying it wouldn’t end up creating the capacity to build the boats in Australia.

But Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said nothing had changed in Australia’s overall strategy.

The French President has said his offer to supply Australia submarines was still on the table, and warned Mr Morrison’s decision to switch to the AUKUS arrangements had risked provoking “nuclear confrontation” with China.

He doubled down on Friday, saying the options being considered with the US and UK wouldn’t deliver for Australia.

“What we decided in 2015 together is how to create, to build submarines, for Australian people, in Australia, for Australian industry, to build Australian sovereignty – and to have non-nuclear submarines that you can restore, repair and use,” he told Bloomberg at an event on the sidelines of the APEC meeting in Bangkok.

“What AUKUS deal is about is how to make nuclear submarines elsewhere, with other people, without certainty they can deliver.

“I’m not the one to say what is the best decision.”

Mr Macron famously said, “I don’t think, I know” when asked whether Mr Morrison had lied to him over the submarine deal.

But he and Mr Albanese have patched up the relationship, following up a June visit to Paris with a formal meeting in Bali on Wednesday at the G20.

The Prime Minister said they had also had a friendly conversation on Thursday night, after Mr Macron’s initial comments about the risks of changing tack on submarines.

“We are proceeding with the AUKUS arrangements, there’s nothing ambiguous about it,” Mr Albanese said.

“We have a good co-operative relationship with France and we’ll continue to engage on ways in which France can assist Australia.”

Deputy Opposition leader Sussan Ley urged Mr Albanese to “launch a strident defence of AUKUS” to protect Australia’s national interest.