Submarine dispute escalates: France calls back ambassadors from the USA and Australia


Submarine dispute escalates
France is calling back ambassadors from the USA and Australia

The US and UK want to help Australia build nuclear-powered submarines. China is supposed to be put under pressure in the region. As a result, France escapes a multi-billion dollar submarine deal. The country has been snubbed and is calling back its ambassadors from the USA and Australia.

France has called its ambassadors from the USA and Australia back for consultations in the dispute over a new Indo-Pacific security alliance. Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian justified the “extraordinary decision” in a statement on Friday by saying that the announcements by Washington and Canberra were “extremely serious”. The extraordinary step is being made at the request of President Emmanuel Macron, he said. Because of the new security alliance, Australia surprisingly canceled the purchase of French submarines that had been negotiated for years.

With their new security pact in the Indo-Pacific, the USA, Great Britain and Australia only sent a clear signal to China a few days ago, but also offended allies. The plan includes helping Australia build nuclear-powered submarines. China, which is facing international criticism because of its increasing claim to power in the region, sees itself provoked by the tripartite alliance.

France foamed with anger, because its own multi-billion dollar submarine deal with Australia had probably burst as a result. For the French, the new pact means the loss of a 56 billion euro agreement. In 2016, Australia signed a multi-billion dollar contract with France to build twelve new submarines. “I’m angry. You don’t do that among allies,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian rumbled after the announcement of the security pact with its implications. He spoke of a “one-sided, brutal and unpredictable decision”. You strongly resemble the appearance of the former US President Donald Trump. The relationship of trust with Australia had been betrayed.

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