“Australia values its relationship with France,which is an important partner and a vital contributor to stability,particularly in the Indo-Pacific. This will not change.

“We look forward to engaging with France again on our many issues of shared interest,based on shared values.”

Shortly before the French announced the recall,Australia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne told an audience at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington DC that she “absolutely” understood the disappointment of the French.

“My task is to work as hard as I can … to make sure that they do understand the value we place on the role that they play and do understand the value we place on the bilateral relationship and the work we want to continue to do together.”

Onan interview with news channel France 24,Macron’s European Affairs Minister Clement Baune said the rupture of trust following the cancellation of the submarine contract could compromise Australia’s free trade deal negotiations with the European Union.

“If we no longer have confidence,we cannot move forward and I do not see how we can trust the Australian partners,” Mr Baune said.

Labor foreign affairs spokeswoman Penny Wong said this was not the first time Prime Minister Scott Morrison had “blindsided an international partner or failed to do the diplomatic leg work before an announcement”.

“It’s about time Mr Morrison learnt to prioritise Australia’s relationships and national interest over photo ops. France is a country with shared interest in our region. The Morrison-Joyce Government must outline what steps it is taking to repair this important relationship.”

Following the first recall of a French ambassador to Washington DC in more than two centuries,US State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement:“We have been in close contact with our French allies. We understand their position,and we are aware of their plans to recall Ambassador Etienne to Paris for consultations.
“France is a vital partner and our oldest ally,and we place the highest value on our relationship. We hope to continue our discussion on this issue at the senior level in coming days.”

The recall of Jean-Pierre Thebault,the French ambassador to Australia,and Philippe Etienne,the ambassador to the US,for “consultations” is understood to be the first in a rolling series of protests from Paris,which is furious at Australia for abandoning the contract and the US for benefiting from the switch.

Lowy Institute foreign policy expert Herve Lemahieu said the decision to dump the French boats would “take years to repair and will leave a lasting legacy of mistrust” between Australia and France.