This is undoubtedly the epilogue of a serious diplomatic crisis. Compensation of 555 million euros will be paid by Australia to the industrialist Naval Group to put a financial end to the affair of the French submarines, announced the Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, on Saturday June 11.
The French group, majority-owned by the French State, and of which Thales is also a 35% shareholder, has accepted “fair and equitable settlement” of 555 million euros, declared the new head of government, for the rupture, last fall, of a gigantic contract which had caused a diplomatic crisis between Paris and Canberra.
In a press release published on Saturday, Naval Group also specified that it had signed “a fair deal ending Australia’s future submarine program” with Canberra, without giving further details.
In September 2021, then Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison suddenly ended what had been called the “deal of the century”, a deal passed, in 2016, to acquire twelve French nuclear submarines, for 50 billion Australian dollars (about 35 billion euros, at the time), of which about 8 billion for Naval Group and French companies.
It was the largest defense contract ever awarded by Australia, to replace its fleet, with first delivery expected by 2030. The budget then ballooned to eventually reach $90 billion ( €56 billion).
Uncertainty about device reception
But Mr. Morrison had finally announced that his country would buy American or British nuclear-powered submarines, a major change for a state with weak nuclear capabilities. This decision came within the framework of the Aukus military alliance signed between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
The head of the Australian government then drew the wrath of French President Emmanuel Macron who accused him of deception. Relations between the two countries remained frosty until the election in May of centre-left Mr Albanese. The latter clarified that this settlement came after discussions with the French President, Emmanuel Macron, whom he thanked for the cordial way in which the links between Australia and France were restored.
The submarine contract is the centerpiece of Australia’s defense strategy against China’s growing influence in the region under Xi Jinping’s presidency. Nuclear-powered submarines could allow Australia to operate more stealthily and deterrently from China.
But there is great uncertainty about when Australia will actually be able to own these devices. The first American or British submarine is unlikely to be in service for decades, leaving a void for Australia with its aging fleet.