The incident had an impact on the definition of the new strategic concept of the defense alliance, said Le Drian on Saturday the broadcaster France 2. He accused France’s allies of “lying” and “duplicity” and a serious breach of trust, they had triggered a “serious crisis” .
On Friday evening, France called its ambassadors from Washington and Canberra back for consultations in an extraordinary diplomatic move between allies. The USA, Great Britain and Australia had previously announced the establishment of a new security alliance for the Indo-Pacific, whereupon Australia broke a multi-billion dollar submarine deal with France. Instead, Australia wants to buy US nuclear submarines.
Before Le Drian’s remarks, the head of the NATO military committee, Rob Bauer, said in Athens on Saturday that he did not expect the dispute over the failed submarine deal to have any impact on military cooperation within NATO.
It is the first time in the history of US-French relations that Paris has called its ambassador back from Washington. Such a move is considered extremely unusual among allies. The French reaction sparked regret in Washington. “We regret that you took this step,” said a White House representative. “France is an important partner and our oldest ally, and we value our relationships very much,” added the State Department. The State Department in Washington stressed that it is hoped to be able to continue the discussion on the subject in the coming days.
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said phone calls between Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and his French colleague Florence Parly showed “that there is still much to be done in our defense relationship with France.”
Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said of the dispute with France that there are now “very difficult issues to deal with”. Australia will continue to work “constructively and closely” with France.
The French ambassador to Australia, Jean-Pierre Thebault, was very annoyed on the Saturday before his departure: “I think a big mistake has been made here, a very, very bad approach to a partnership,” he told journalists. “It wasn’t about a contract, it was about a partnership that should be based on trust, mutual understanding and openness.”
In view of China’s expansion efforts in the economically important Indo-Pacific region, Washington, London and Canberra announced their new alliance on Wednesday. Among other things, it provides for Australia to benefit from US technology in the construction of nuclear-powered submarines and from know-how in cyber defense. The US also wants to expand its military presence in Australia.
Shortly after the agreement was announced, Canberra canceled the planned multi-billion dollar submarine deal with France. The contract for the delivery of twelve diesel-powered French submarines had a volume of 31 billion euros when it was signed in 2016 – there was talk of a “contract of the century”.
France also sees itself as a great power in the Indo-Pacific because of its overseas territories such as New Caledonia and French Polynesia. Le Drian had already accused the government in Canberra on Thursday of having “stabbed Paris in the back”. US President Joe Biden, who has declared rivalry with China to be the top priority of his foreign policy, made a “brutal” decision based on the motto of his predecessor Donald Trump – “America first”.
Meanwhile, Malaysia expressed concern about the arms treaty, according to which Australia will now build eight nuclear-powered submarines from France instead of conventional submarines. “This will provoke other powers to act more aggressively in the region, especially in the South China Sea,” said the prime minister’s office with regard to China.
