The AUCKUS pact is tagged as a stab in the back by France, which has now lost a deal with Australia to build 12 submarines
As per the pact, Australia will build nuclear-powered submarines for the first time, using technology provided by the U.S. The pact aims to counter the growing influence of China in the Asia-Pacific region.
France is upset because Australia cancelled a U.S. $ 37 billion (£ 27 billion) deal it had signed with Australia in 2016 to build 12 conventional submarines, a day before entering the Auckus Pact. France was informed of the new alliance only hours before the public announcement was made.
The Foreign Minister of France – jean Yves Le Drian said that the move to recall envoys, on the request of President of France – Emmanuel Macron is justified by the exceptional seriousness of the pact.
Speaking on the occasion, Le Drian said, “The deal constitute[s] unacceptable behaviour between allies and partners whose consequences directly affect the vision we have of our alliances, of our partnerships and of the importance of the Indo-Pacific for Europe.”
He further added, “The abandonment of the ocean-class submarine project that Australia and France had been working on since 2016 and the announcement of a new partnership with the United States aimed at studying the possibility of future cooperation on nuclear-powered submarines constitute unacceptable behavior among allies and partners; their consequences affect the very concept we have of our alliances, our partnerships, and the importance of the Indo-Pacific for Europe.”
Speaking in Washington, the Foreign Minister of Australia – Marise Payne said she understood the disappointment in France and hoped to work with the country to ensure things are resolved. A White House official also said that Biden administration regretted the move and would be engaged with France in the coming days to resolve their differences.
A recall of ambassadors is highly unusual between allies, and it is believed to be the first time France has recalled envoys from the two countries. French diplomats in Washington had already cancelled a gala to celebrate ties between the US and France.
France is concerned that U.S., U.K. and Australia are underestimating and misinterpreting French anger, which is not about the loss of the submarine contract per se, but about the way France – an allied nation with a presence in the Pacific, was cut out of the picture in secret talks between the three English-speaking countries. France considers U.K. junior player in the new pact, seeking a new world role post-Brexit.
That’s why Macron ordered the recall of Ambassadors for consultations to show that from France’s perspective this is a very big deal indeed, and that it raises questions over the essence of its relationship with U.S., Australia and U.K.
