French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken it will take "time and actions" to restore confidence in ties after a crisis triggered by Australia's cancellation of a submarine contract.
France was incensed by Australia's decision last week to opt instead for a deal with the United States and United Kingdom to purchase nuclear-powered submarines and it recalled its ambassadors to Washington DC and Canberra for consultations.
The meeting of Blinken and Le Drian came after US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron spoke by telephone on Wednesday and agreed to launch in-depth consultations to rebuild trust between the two NATO allies.
They also agreed to meet in Europe at the end of October.
Le Drian said in a statement he had discussed with Blinken at the United Nations in New York "the terms and main issues" to be addressed during those in-depth consultations.
The US State Department said Blinken and Le Drian had also discussed cooperation between the United States and European countries including France in the Indo-Pacific region.
Australian Associated Press
