POTUS and Macron Meet to Smooth Things Over After ‘Clumsy’ Handling of Submarine Deal

President Joe Biden is making the most of his European trip to attend the G20 Summit. After his historic meeting with the Pope at the Vatican, the President sat down with his French counterpart to talk face to face after phone discussions last month regarding the sale of nuclear-powered submarines to Australia led to tensions between the two leaders.

French President Emmanuel Macron had said he and his fellow French officials felt “blindsided” last month by the U.S. decision, which undercut a deal the French thought they had in place with the Australians. Macron conveyed that it was reminiscent of the tactics employed by President Biden’s predecessor and his “America First” approach that had alienated so many of America’s allies.

The U.S.-Australia security alliance, known as AUKUS, also includes the United Kingdom, and the pact effectively canceled a lucrative 2016 Australian-France submarine deal. The U.S. decision to secretly negotiate a new deal drew outrage from Paris. The French temporarily recalled their country’s ambassadors to the U.S. and Australia, canceled a Washington gala, and issued a number of statements critical of the Biden administration.

The world isn’t laughing at us anymore.

— Republicans against Trumpism (@RpsAgainstTrump) October 29, 2021

President Biden said the submarine episode “was not done with a lot of grace.” He said he “was under the impression France had been informed before.” Unlike the former guy, the President openly admitted his error in judgment.

“What we did was clumsy,” President Biden said, adding, “I want to be clear: France is an extremely valuable partner.”

President Biden meets with French President Macron in Rome and calls France an “extremely valued partner."

On the Australian nuclear submarine deal that led to France recalling their ambassador, Biden calls it "clumsy." pic.twitter.com/DLE3Dr1Qua

— The Recount (@therecount) October 29, 2021

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The President was over an hour late for Friday’s meeting at the French Embassy to the Vatican after his sit-down with Pope Francis ran long. When asked by reporters as he arrived whether he should apologize, President Biden parried: “to whom?”

President Joe Biden called U.S. government actions ‘clumsy’ during his first meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron since a diplomatic crisis erupted last month over a U.S. security pact with Britain and Australia https://t.co/Y3MVTe2Ghz pic.twitter.com/5P2aR0GMVd

— Reuters (@Reuters) October 29, 2021