10/30/21, 4:19 PM Biden: We were clumsy over France submarine row - BBC News

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Biden: We were clumsy over France

submarine row
12 hours ago

COP26

REUTERS

US President Joe Biden has told France's Emmanuel Macron that the US was
"clumsy" over a security pact signed between the UK, US, and Australia that
lost France billions.

It was the first meeting between the two leaders since the Aukus pact - which
will let Australia build nuclear-powered submarines - was agreed.

Aukus caused a row with France, which lost a $37bn deal with Australia.

Mr Macron said it was important to "look to the future".

The meeting between the two presidents took place at France's Vatican
embassy in Rome, Villa Bonaparte.

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10/30/21, 4:19 PM Biden: We were clumsy over France submarine row - BBC News

It was part of a series of meetings between the US president and world leaders
ahead of the G20 summit of major economies this weekend and next week's
UN climate summit, COP26, in Scotland.

"What we did was clumsy," Mr Biden said. "I was under the impression that
France had been informed long before that the deal was not going through,
honest to God."

The Aukus pact, which will also cover AI and other technologies, is one of
Australia's biggest defence partnerships in decades, and is seen as an effort to
counter China.

It scuppered a deal signed by Australia in 2016 for France to build 12

conventional submarines.

At the time, France's foreign minister called the security pact "a stab in the
back", and France temporarily recalled its US and Australian ambassadors.

Speaking after meeting Mr Biden on Friday, Mr Macron told reporters: "Trust is

like love, declarations are good, but proof is better." The two leaders also
spoke about climate change, counter-terrorism in West Africa and European
defence.

REUTERS

Brigitte Macron (left) and Jill Biden (right) met separately

Diplomatic drive
Mr Biden's first meeting of the day was at the Vatican, where he praised Pope
Francis for his leadership on climate change
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10/30/21, 4:19 PM Biden: We were clumsy over France submarine row - BBC News
Francis for his leadership on climate change.

During the 90-minute meeting, Mr Biden thanked the pontiff for his advocacy
for the world's poor and those suffering from hunger and persecution. He also
praised the Pope's leadership on the climate crisis and the pandemic.

Mr Biden gifted Pope Francis a special coin and called him "the most
significant warrior for peace I've ever met."

On the back of the coin was the insignia of the unit of the Delaware Army
National Guard, the unit in which the President's late son, Beau Biden served.

EUROPEAN PRESSPHOTO AGENCY

Pope Francis met US President Joe Biden at the Vatican

He joked that if the pontiff did not have the coin with him at their next
meeting, he would have to "buy the drinks".

Pope Francis gave Mr Biden a ceramic tile and his recent writings on Catholic
teaching.

After his meeting with the pontiff, Mr Biden met Italian President Sergio
Mattarella and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi.

Earlier, in a message recorded for the BBC, the Pope urged world leaders to
agree a meaningful deal at COP26 offering "concrete hope" to future
generations.

COP26 li t
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10/30/21, 4:19 PM Biden: We were clumsy over France submarine row - BBC News

COP26 climate summit - The basics

Climate change is one of the world's most pressing problems.
Governments must promise more ambitious cuts in warming gases if we
are to prevent greater global temperature rises.

The summit in Glasgow is where change could happen. You need to watch
for the promises made by the world's biggest polluters, like the US and
China, and whether poorer countries are getting the support they need.

All our lives will change. Decisions made here could impact our jobs, how
we heat our homes, what we eat and how we travel.

Read more about the COP26 summit here.

Related Topics

COP26 Climate change Italy United States Joe Biden

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