French President Emmanuel Macron has called Prime Minister Scott Morrison a liar on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Rome.
Mr Macron says he was caught by surprise when Australia announced its involvement in the AUKUS agreement with the United States and the UK.
He says the French-Australia relationship has deteriorated after Australia backed out of its Submarine deal with France.
Scott Morrison maintains the deal was in Australia's best interest – and was pressed on the comments a short time ago before leaving Rome.
Visibly rattled at a media conference in Rome, the PM denied that he had lied to President Macron and maintained he would not put Australia's relationship with France above the national interest.
