After a two-year delay, Australia has signed a production contract with a French shipbuilder for 12 new submarines.

Australia’s defense department and France’s Naval Group are expected to sign a strategic partnership agreement this month.

The concept design for Australia’s Future Submarine project should be finalized by the end of 2018.

Japan’s foreign minister said in a recent interview that Tokyo is prepared to export its submarines to Australia.

Australia and France have yet to conclude a strategic partnering agreement for the construction of 12 diesel-electric submarines.

French President Emmanuel Macron visited Australia this week, the second French leader to do so.

Forging closer security ties with France seems to be Australia's best regional hedge against U.S. political instability.

In a new report, experts urge Australian government to drop plans to procure French-made nuclear attack submarines.

Though perhaps overlooked, France has long been an Asian power and intends to remain so in the 21st century.

Australia and France have signed an intergovernmental agreement to build 12 submarines.

The bilateral agreement aims to support bilateral work on Australia’s so-called SEA 1000 Future Submarine Program.