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Submarine quarrel dampened hopes for post-Trump revival between Paris and Washington
France on Saturday accused Australia and the United States of lying about the breakdown of Australia’s contract to purchase French submarines, saying that a serious crisis is occurring between the allies.
French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday Recall of ambassadors in Canberra and Washington This was an unprecedented move to express his anger at Australia’s decision to disrupt the French submarine deal in support of US nuclear-powered ships.
At present, this controversy has ended President Donald Trump’s hopes for Donald Trump after the revival of the relationship between Paris and Washington under President Joe Biden’s leadership, and France is also focusing its attention on the future of NATO. In promoting the EU’s security strategy.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian did not say that Paris was ready to calm the crisis in an interview with France 2 TV. He used obviously non-diplomatic language against Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom as part of the tripartite security agreement.
“There are lies, duplicity, serious violations of trust and contempt,” Le Drian said. “This won’t work.”
He described the ambassador’s withdrawal from these countries for the first time in the history of relations with these countries as a “very symbolic” act aimed at “showing how unhappy we are and that there is a serious crisis between us”.
On Sunday, Australian Finance Minister Simon Birmingham once again insisted that Australia had notified the French government “as soon as possible before it became public.”
He told the national broadcaster ABC that canceling the deal with France is “always a difficult decision”.
“We will not underestimate the importance of the present… to ensure that we re-establish strong ties with the French government and colleagues for a long time to come,” he added. “Because their continued participation in the region is important.”
Le Drian also issued a sharp response to the question of why France did not recall its ambassador to the UK, which was also part of the security agreement that led to the breach.
“We have recalled our ambassadors in (Canberra and Washington) to reassess the situation. In the UK, there is no need. We know their constant opportunism. So there is no need for our ambassador to come back and explain,” he said.
Regarding London’s role in the agreement under Prime Minister Boris Johnson, he added sarcastically: “The UK is a bit like the third round in this matter.”
He added that NATO must consider what has happened when it reconsiders its strategy at the Madrid summit next year.
He said that when France assumes the rotating EU presidency in early 2022, it will now give priority to formulating an EU security strategy.
Admiral Rob Bauer, chairman of the NATO Military Commission, earlier played down these dangers, saying that it is unlikely to have an impact on “military cooperation” within the alliance.
Biden announced on Wednesday the new Australia-U.S.-Britain defense alliance, which will extend U.S. nuclear submarine technology as well as cyber defense, applied artificial intelligence and subsea capabilities to Australia.
It is widely believed that the agreement aims to counter the rise of China.
The move angered France, which lost a contract to supply conventional submarines to Australia, which was valued at 50 billion Australian dollars (36.5 billion U.S. dollars, 31 billion euros) when it was signed in 2016.
On Friday, a White House official expressed “regret” over the recall of the French envoy, but added: “We will continue to participate in resolving differences in the coming days, just as we have done in other areas during the long-term alliance.”
US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said on Twitter that Washington understands France’s position and maintains “close contact” with Paris.
He added, The issue will be discussed at the “high level”, Including the United Nations General Assembly next week, Le Drian and U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Brinken will all attend.
LeDrian described the submarine operation on Friday as a “stabbing in the back” and said that the Biden administration’s behavior was similar to that of Trump, whose sudden change in policy angered Europe.
Australia also dismissed China’s anger over its decision to purchase nuclear-powered submarines, while vowing to defend the rule of law in Beijing’s airspace and waters, which has been fiercely disputed.
Beijing described the new alliance as an “extremely irresponsible” threat to regional stability, questioned Australia’s commitment to nuclear non-proliferation, and warned Western allies that they risked “blow up”.
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