Biden tells Macron the US was ‘clumsy’ over Australian submarine deal

US President Joe Biden shakes hands with French President Emmanuel Macron (Evan Vucci/AP)

President Joe Biden has told Emmanuel Macron the US had been “clumsy” in its handling of a secret submarine deal with Australia, an arrangement that left France in the lurch and rattled Europe’s faith in American loyalty.

Mr Biden and Mr Macron greeted each other with handshakes and shoulder grabs before their first face-to-face meeting since the deal was publicly announced in September, marking the latest American effort to try to smooth hurt French sensibilities.