Australia and France sign military access agreement as post-Aukus tensions ease

News Snapshot:

Australia and France have promised to grant access to each other’s military bases and training facilities in a clear break from their post-Aukus blues. The reciprocal access agreement is expected to allow Australian forces to access French bases in the Pacific region, while also giving France access to Australian facilities. The plans were announced after the Australian foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, held talks in Canberra with her visiting French counterpart, Catherine Colonna. “This is a very important part of - I think Catherine described it as a reset of the relationship,” Wong said at a press conference on Monday...