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Progress of the Future Submarine Program was on the agenda, as well as Australia’s 2020 Defence Strategic Update and Force Structure Plan, when Defence Minister Linda Reynolds met with French Minister of the Armed Services Florence Parly via videoconference this week.
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The news comes as the second scheduled quarterly meeting this year, after the two countries agreed at the Munich Security Conference in February 2020 to meet regularly. The move was largely inspired by the Future Submarine Program, which has seen several high-profile exchanges between members of respective governments.
"Minister Parly and I discussed the impact of COVID-19 and the importance of ongoing close collaboration between our governments, officials and prime contractors to ensure the Future Submarine Program remains on track for its next major milestone, the Systems Functional Review, in January 2021," said a statement from Minister Price's office.
The release adds that the two "reaffirmed [their] commitment to the Australia-France strategic defence partnership, and agreed to continue to work together to advance our mutual security interests."
The first quarterly meeting was conducted in early May, at which the same issues were raised.
However, this time round, Minister Price added that she also briefed her French counterpart on the release of Australia’s 2020 Defence Strategic Update and Force Structure Plan.
The defence agreement between Australia and France is also underpinned by more formal ties, like the Provision of Mutual Logistical Support between the ADF and the French Armed Forces, signed in Sydney on 2 May 2018.
The agreement facilitates work together in the specific areas of coalition operations, exercises, and humanitarian relief.
