Paris: France on Thursday accused Australia Piercing behind and Washington from the behavior of the Donald Trump era after Canberra canceled the ranking of a large submarine with Paris for US-made nuclear vessels.
“It really stabbed behind.
We have established trust relationships with Australia, this belief has been betrayed,” said Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian to France Radio Info.
“I am very angry today, and bitter …
this is not something allies for each other,” he said, noting that Australia must now explain how it would come out of the contract.
Le Drian also said that the government of President Joe Biden reminded his predecessor Trump, which irritated Europe with unexpected decision making.
“This unilateral decision, suddenly and unexpectedly reminded what Mr Trump will do,” added Le Drian, describing what happened “unacceptable” and “it cannot be understood.” The French Navy group, partly owned by the state, has been chosen to build 12 conventional-powered submarines for Australia, based on Barracuda French nuclear-powered subs in development.
The contract was worth around Aus $ 50 billion (31 billion euros, $ 36.5 billion) when it was announced in 2016.
But Biden and the Australian Prime Minister and Britain announced on Wednesday, the new defense pact who would see Canberra get a nuclear-powered submarine fleet , A privilege is provided for several American allies.
Moving underlined the growing concern about the influence of China that developed in the Indo-Pacific, where France was also looking to protect its interests which cover foreign regions of New Caledonia and French Polynesia.
Asked whether Paris had been “cheated” by Washington for what was once called Le Drian “Century contract” for the French Navy Yard, the minister answered: “Your analysis of this situation is more or less correct.” He said France and his allies had worked on “coherent and structured Indo-Pacific policies” in facing Beijing regional forces growing.
“We have discussed that with the recent United States, and this is where this break,” said Le Drian, called it “a big violation of trust.” “We need clarification.
We have contracts – Australians need to tell us how they intend to get out of them,” he added.
Defense Minister Florence Parly mentioned Australia’s face “very bad news in connection with guarding someone’s word,” adding that France is “clear eyes about how the United States took care of her allies.” “In terms of geopolitics and international relations, this is serious,” he told RFI radio on Thursday.
Parly and Le Drian have criticized “regrettable” by Canberra in an overnight statement, said it underscores the need to increase “European strategic autonomy.” “There is no other credible way to maintain our interests and our values ​​in the world, including in the Indo-Pacific,” they said.
President Emmanuel Macron – who will meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel for talks that are scheduled later on Thursday – has repeatedly said that Europe needs to develop its own defense ability to be less dependent on the US.
Parly and Le Drian said that France maintained his ambition in the Indo-Pacific region as “only European countries” with the presence there, because of the overseas regions with nearly two million French citizens and more than 7,000 soldiers.
“France is a reliable partner and will continue to hold on to his involvement, as always done,” they said.