WASHINGTON, 15 October 2021 (AFP) — The European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, this Friday (15) in Washington, showed his willingness to turn the page in the crisis between the United States and France. On Australian submarines, which included the European bloc.
“We are not going to be masochists and continue to focus on our problems, we have to overcome them and look to the future,” he told reporters a day after his meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
“There was an incident, some misunderstanding, lack of communication, which has already been said,” he said.
“Okay, it’s over, let’s move on. And let’s start working together,” said the Spanish diplomat.
In September, Borrell expressed the EU’s “solidarity” with France in an unprecedented crisis with the United States.
Controversy arose when US President Joe Biden announced the formation of a new Indo-Pacific alliance with Australia and the UK, leading to the cancellation of a $1 billion submarine contract between Paris and Canberra. French officials said it was “stabbed in the back” and a “breach of trust”.
Soon after, Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron met to try to restore confidence.
“It is clear that the desire for both camps to cooperate and achieve a more balanced society is the cornerstone of this new society,” Borrell said on Friday.
In this regard, the EU Diplomacy Officer welcomed the launch of a dialogue between the United States and Europe on security and defence, and also the decision announced yesterday with Blinken, “High-Level Consultations on the Indo-Pacific ” to do. end of year
The forum will add to the ongoing talks between the EU and Washington on the position to be adopted in relation to China, with the next meeting scheduled for December.
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