Anthony Albanese swoons over French President Emmanuel Macron on another foreign tour

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was swooned by French President Emmanuel Macron after landing in Lithuania for the NATO summit, giving both leaders a respite from domestic troubles.

Recent polls have shown that voters are increasingly dissatisfied with the way the Albanian government is dealing with the cost of living crisis, with the prime minister also drawing criticism for his frequent trips abroad.

Meanwhile, France has been engulfed in scenes of chaos and violence as angry mobs turn on authorities after a 17-year-old boy of Moroccan and Algerian descent was shot dead by police in Nanterre, in suburban Paris.

However, in the warm embrace of each other, the two leaders can at least boast of improving relations between their nations.

The Franco-Australian relationship soured in 2021 following the previous coalition government’s decision to dump a French submarine contract in favor of acquiring others under a partnership with the UK and US.

Former Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s clandestine decision to scrap the deal cost French shipbuilders an estimated $5 billion.

France temporarily recalled its ambassador from Canberra and Macron told Australian journalists that Morrison had lied to him.

But it was all smiles when the two leaders met in Lithuania, and Mr. Albanese shared some glowing words about his French counterpart.

‘Europe must be open, prosperous and free. And I know there is no stronger defender of that vision than French President Emmanuel Macron,” Albanese tweeted.

He revealed that Macron had invited him to visit France earlier in the week, but this had not been possible because Albanese was in Germany.

Albanese said he had offered the French president an invitation to visit Australia.

The Prime Minister also met with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg thanking him for including Australia in the military alliance summit.

“We will commit to supporting the people of Ukraine for as long as it takes,” Albanese said after announcing the deployment of an Australian reconnaissance plane to Europe a day earlier amid the conflict.

Joining the summit for the second time since becoming prime minister, Albanese will attend a special meeting on Wednesday along with Australia’s ‘Indo-Pacific Four’ partners Japan, South Korea and New Zealand.

Although not a member of NATO, Australia has worked with the alliance since 2005 and has been an “enhanced opportunity partner” since 2014.

The prime minister also met his British counterpart Rishi Sunak, Portuguese leader Antonio Costa and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Tuesday.

Albanese said he expected to meet on Wednesday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who appeared at the summit on Tuesday.

The Prime Minister also spoke to a bipartisan delegation of US senators who will play a role in passing legislation allowing the transfer of Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines to Australia.

Mr. Albanese previously announced that the Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail would help protect multinational logistics centers and allow the free flow of aid, but would not enter Ukrainian airspace.

The aircraft will be deployed for six months and will be based in Germany.

The deployment will include up to 100 Australian crew and support personnel.

The prime minister also met his British counterpart Rishi Sunak, Portuguese leader Antonio Costa and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Tuesday.

Albanese said he expected to meet on Wednesday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who appeared at the summit on Tuesday.

The Prime Minister also spoke to a bipartisan delegation of US senators who will play a role in passing legislation allowing the transfer of Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines to Australia.

However, not everyone is impressed with the Albanese visiting abroad.

Veteran broadcaster Alan Jones has accused Mr Albanese and Treasurer Jim Chalmers of disappearing as thousands of households struggle to make ends meet.

“I’ve been saying for months where Anthony Albanese and Jim Chalmers stand in relation to Australia’s cost of living crisis.” Jones wrote on Facebook Tuesday.

Both are not in sight.

‘The Prime Minister is too busy shaking hands with foreign leaders; and the Treasurer never stops complaining about ‘trillions of dollars in Liberal Party debt’.

“Meanwhile, both young and old Australians, households and small businesses are struggling.”

Mr Albanese earlier met German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin on Monday to announce that Australia will send a surveillance plane to Germany to monitor military and humanitarian supplies to Ukraine.

The Prime Minister also announced that Australia will join the ‘Climate Club’, an international group that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Last year, Australia committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 43% below 2005 levels by 2030.

It also aims to reach net zero emissions by 2050.

Germany is working to reach net zero by 2045, setting a preliminary target of an 88 percent reduction in 1990 levels by 2040.

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said tackling climate change would help Australia improve its trade and trade ties with Europe.

“Germany sees us as a source of clean energy, clean hydrogen and the like,” he told Sky News on Tuesday.

‘The opportunity for Australian industry in terms of supporting Germany’s energy needs…is huge.’