SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he has tried to arrange a conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron but has been unsuccessful so far, a week after his cancellation of a major submarine deal sparked a diplomatic row with Paris.

Morrison spoke in Washington Wednesday and said that he will be patient with France in rebuilding relations.

Paris has summoned its ambassadors from Canberra to Washington. It claimed it was blindsided at Australia’s choice to make nuclear-powered submarines with Britain and the United States, rather than sticking with its diesel submarine contract.

To smoothen relations between Macron and Joe Biden, France spoke to each other by phone on Wednesday. France stated that their ambassador would be returning to Washington the following week.

Morrison however, who was in America for a series, stated that he attempted to set up a phone call with the French President, but failed.

We have. The opportunity to make that call has not yet. Morrison told U.S. lawmakers that he understood France’s disappointment and said that he would remain patient as they discussed the submarine deal. AUKUS is a new alliance of security with Britain and the United States.

Morrison stated that he understands France’s sorrow and acknowledged the fact that the cancelation of the submarine contract which was originally valued at $40 Billion and later on at $60 Billion, means the issues are different from those between Washington, Paris and the United States and will take longer to resolve.

Morrison said, “I look forward” and that when the right time comes and the chance presents itself, he would have another discussion.

Morrison stated that both Australia’s agreement to create a nuclear-powered submarine fleet as well the Australia, UK and U.S. trilateral security alliance (AUKUS), had been supported by bipartisan groups during meetings with U.S. legislators and officials.