Tuesday, September 21, 2021
Dispute over failed submarine deal
Von der Leyen: Treatment of France “unacceptable”
A submarine deal between Australia and the United States angered France. A violent transatlantic dispute breaks out. Now the EU leaders are also expressing themselves: Commission President von der Leyen sharply criticizes the deal. EU Council President Michel even accuses the USA of a lack of loyalty.
In the dispute over a failed submarine deal, the EU leaders have sharply criticized the actions of the USA, Australia and Great Britain against France. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the treatment of France on the US news channel CNN as “unacceptable”. “There are many unanswered questions that have to be answered,” said von der Leyen. “We want to know what happened and why.”
EU Council President Charles Michel accused the USA of a “clear lack of transparency and loyalty”. The US approach is “incomprehensible”, so a “clarification” is necessary, said Michel before the start of the general debate at the UN General Assembly in New York.
Michel even drew parallels with Biden’s predecessor Donald Trump: the advocate of an “America First” policy was “at least very clear – in tone, content and language – that in his opinion the EU was not a useful partner and ally”.
Biden tries to appease France
The background to the unusually fierce transatlantic dispute is the establishment of a new security alliance for the Indo-Pacific between the USA, Great Britain and Australia and an associated agreement to build nuclear submarines for Australia. This prompted the Australian government to cancel a long-term submarine deal with France. The French government reacted indignantly and called its ambassadors from Canberra and Washington back for deliberations. Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian complained about a “serious breach of trust”.
In order to soothe France’s anger over the broken deal, the USA, Great Britain and Australia recently adopted conciliatory tones. US President Joe Biden wants to call France’s head of state Emmanuel Macron soon. A French government spokesman said Biden asked Macron to speak to him.
A US government official said Biden was looking forward to the interview and would like to talk about a “way forward”. But he also emphasized: “We understand the French position. We do not share their view.”
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke of his country’s “inextinguishable love” for France. Australia’s Vice Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce recalled the Australian soldiers who fought on France’s side in both world wars.