Despite what he said were substantial conversations in Paris with the senior US diplomat, a dispute between Paris and Washington over Australia’s decision to cancel a submarine purchase deal remains serious and unresolved, according to French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian.

The transatlantic spat was sparked by the US secretly negotiating an AUKUS military agreement with Australia and the United Kingdom to oppose China.

Under the terms of the agreement, Australia agreed to acquire submarines designed in the United States and ended a supply agreement with France. Paris said the agreement was done behind its back and withdrew its ambassador from Washington for a while in protest.

Le Drian told French legislators that he had had candid and substantial discussions with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is in Paris this week.

“The issue is severe; it will not be addressed just because we have begun talks. Acts, not words, will be required to get out of it “According to Le Drian, the two parties are trying to achieve outcomes by the end of October.

French President Emmanuel Macron and US President Joe Biden will talk again in mid-October, he said.

Le Drian said negotiations focused on three points: the strategic importance of French and European engagement in the Indo-Pacific region, the importance of a stronger and more capable European defense, and how the United States can reinforce its support for counter-terrorism operations in Africa’s Sahel region conducted by European states.