"We have been in close touch with our French partners on their decision to recall Ambassador Etienne to Paris for consultations," Horne said on Friday. "We understand their position and will continue to be engaged in the coming days to resolve our differences, as we have done at other points over the course of our long alliance."
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian's announced earlier on Friday that France recalled their ambassadors to the US and Australia back to Paris for consultations about Canberra’s decision to terminate a submarine contract with them in favor of one with the United States and the United Kingdom.