Paris recalled its envoy last month after Australia cancelled a submarine deal to join a US-UK pact.
, 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".
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 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.
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