US: Blinken says rebuilding France ties will take time

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken acknowledged Thursday that repairing ties with Paris will take time after he met with his French counterpart concerning a bitter row over a cancelled mega-contract.

Blinken reiterated a White House statement after President Joe Biden’s talks with his counterpart Emmanuel Macron that Australia’s cancellation of a French contract would have “benefited from open consultations among allies.”

Blinken voiced his personal respect for French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, who initially gave Blinken the cold shoulder at the UN General Assembly.

“We recognize that this will take time and hard work and will be demonstrated not only in words but in deeds,” Blinken told reporters.

“I’m committed to working closely with Minister Le Drian on this crucial effort.”