Overcoming Submarine Crisis Requires "Time and Actions", Le Drian tells Blinken
In a meeting between the US Secretary of State and his French counterpart, the latter has stressed that overcoming the crisis between the two countries "takes time and requires actions."
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US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian (Archive)
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told his American counterpart, Anthony Blinken, during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, in New York, on Thursday, that overcoming the crisis between their two countries over the Australian submarine crisis "takes time and requires actions."
In a statement, the French Foreign Ministry announced that Le Drian recalled that a "first step" had been taken during the phone call between US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday.
J’ai rencontré ce matin à New York mon homologue américain @SecBlinken pour engager un processus de discussions approfondies entre nos deux pays.
— Jean-Yves Le Drian (@JY_LeDrian) September 23, 2021
Sortir de la crise que nous vivons prendra du temps et requerra des actes.#UNGA pic.twitter.com/dYTpTWevfZ
The statement added that Le Drian "agreed to remain in close contact with Mr. Blinken" in order to "restore confidence" between the two parties, without providing further details.
According to the US State Department, in the phone call between Presidents Joe Biden and Emmanuel Macron, the two sides discussed plans to conduct "in-depth consultations" on issues of strategic importance.
Today I spoke with President Emmanuel Macron of France, and reaffirmed the importance of French and European engagement in the Indo-Pacific region. I look forward to a process of in-depth consultations and to meeting with him in October. pic.twitter.com/MouVMCBgDR
— President Biden (@POTUS) September 22, 2021
The European Union's strategy for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, which is welcomed by the US, and the need for close cooperation with France and other European allies and active partners in the region were also discussed.
The meeting took place behind closed doors at the headquarters of the French mission in the United Nations headquarters and lasted for about an hour away from microphones and cameras. The French mission refused to comment on the talks between Blinken and Le Drian.
Macron's office said on Wednesday that the President expected "concrete measures" from the United States to restore confidence between the two countries following the submarine crisis that led France to recall its ambassadors to the US and Australia on September 17.
